
Book 'WlMl^S^ 



i- 



;' I 



Xo. XVII. 



if 



PROCEEDINGS 



-^^OK THE . •,' 



MorrrstFr ^oriFl^g of jStntiqnitg, 



For The Year 

1881. 




WORCESTER, MASS. : 
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. 

1882. 
U. S. A. CVI. 



La crz-U^^'U/t* 



/1^/Gv.:^. ... AOtL^TZ . 0. 



COLLECTIONS 



-tQOFTHE©- 



OoFtFskF $mt\ of ^nliqni^g, 



VOLUME V, 




WORCESTER, MASS. : 

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. 

1883. 

U. S. A. CVII. 



rz-f 



4-''. 



/ ,-- 



- <J 




\JOi.^ 



PROCEEDINGS 



#0F THE = 



^oFtFsi'FF ^oriFi'g of J^nMqnitg, 



For The Year 

1881. 




WORCESTER, MASS. : 
PUBLISHED EY THE SOCIETY. 

1882. 
U. S. A. CVI. 



WORCESTER : 
PRESS OF CLARK JILLSON. 

1882. 



/ 



OFFICEES FOR 1882. 



PRESIDENT, 

ELLERY BICKNELL CRANE. 



VICE-PRESIDENTS, 

ALBERT TOLMAN, GEORGE SUMNER. 



SECRETARY, 

HENRY LORISTON SHUMWAY. 



TREASURER, 

HENRY FRANCIS STEDMAN. 



LIBRARIAN, 

SAMUEL ELIAS STAPLES. 



Departments of Work. 

♦ 

ARCHAEOLOGY AND GENERAL HISTORY. 
CHARLES R. JOHNSON, Chairman. 

William H. Bartlett, Francis T. Blackmer,H. W. Hubbard, 
Thos. A. Dickinson, Alfred AYaites, Tliomas Stansfield, 

John W. Brigham, Clias. F. Washburn, John G. Brady, 
Henry F. Stedman, Charles. W. Clark, F. E. Lancaster, 
Charles A. Morgan, Samuel E. Staples, 
James L. Esty, Franklin P. Rice, 

William L. Clark, Theodore C. Bates, 
Eben. F. Thompson, Reuben Colton, 
Ellery B. Crane, 



Edward B. Glasgow, 
E. H. Thompson, 
William T. Harlow, 
Sullivan Forehand. 



LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY. 



ELLERY B. CRANE, Chairman. 



Alfred S. Roe, 
Harvey B. Wilder, 
Thos. E. Bartlett, 
Franklin P. Rice, 
Clark Jillson, 
Daniel Seagrave, 
Albert A. Lovell, 
George A. Jordan, 
E. H. Marshall, 



Samuel E. Staples, 
Charles A. Chase, 
James A. Smith, 
E. R. Lawrence, 
Benj. John Dodge, 
William T. Harlow, 
A. B. R. Sprague, 
Burton AY. Potter, 
Nathaniel Paine, 



Albert Tyler, 
Henry M. Smith, 
Ephraim Tucker, 
W. H. Bigelow, 
Manning Leonard, 
Frank E. Blake, 
Henry P. Upham, 
J. Chaunce}' Lyford. 



ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS. PUBLICATIONS AND ENGRAVINGS. 



CL 

AYm. B. Harding, 
Albert Tyler, 
Augustus Coolidge, 
Merrick Bemis, 
Samuel E. Staples, 
Charles C. Baldwin, 
Albert Tolman, 
Edward I. Comins, 



ARK JILLSON, Chairman. 

Chas. B. AYhiting, Reuben Colton, 
Chas. AY. Estabrook,Theo. S. Johnson, 
Nathaniel Paine, Chas. AA''. Fenno, 
Fisher A. Eosworth, George Sumner, 
Augustus E. Peck, Addison Prentiss, 
Jolm Cort, Albert P. Marble, 

Henr}' L. Shumwa}-, Alfred Waites, 
AVilliiim A. Smith, Josiah Pickett. 



RELICS, COINS, AND CURIOSITIES. 
SAMUEL E. STAPLES, Chairman. 



Henry Phelps, 
Richard O'Flynn, 
AA'illiam B. Ilowe, 
Nelson R. Scott, 
George Sumner, 
Franklin C. Jillson, 
Olin L. Merriam, 
Edwin Ames, 



Jei-ome Wheelock, 
Augustus Stone, 
Joseph N. Bates, 
Edgar AY. Warren, 
Norton L. Cook, 
Edwin H. Marble, 
Frank J. Kinne}', 
Geo. E. Bojden, 



Pardon A. Lee, 
Albert G. Mann, 
Stephen C. Earle, 
Charles F. Rugg, 
A. K. Gould, 
Geo. F. Thompson, 
Henr}' King, 
Fred. G. Stiles. 



dOMMiWsJ^^ j^'ofj i§§^ 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

ELLERY B. CRANE, GEORGE SUMNER, 
ALBERT TOLMAN, HENRY. L. SHUMWAY, 
HENRY F. STEDMAN. 



STANDING COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS. 

CHARLES R. JOHNSON, for 1 year; 
EDWARD R. LAWRENCE, for 2 years; 
DANIEL SEAGRAVE, for 3 years. 



COMMITTEE ON BIOGRAPHY. 

HENRY L. SHUMWAY, ALBERT TYLER, 
ALFRED S. ROE. 



COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION. 

CLARK JILLSON, SAMUEL E. STAPLES, 

HENRY M. SMITH, FRANKLIN P. RICE. 



Publications of the Society. 



No. I. Proceedings for 1875-1877. (pp. 70.) 

No. II. Constitution and list of officers (com- 

prised in No. I.). 
No. III. Proceedings for 1877, with Inscriptions 
from Old Burial Grounds in Worces- 
ter, (pp. 168.) 
No. IV. Inscriptions from Old Burial Grounds in 

Worcester, (comprised in No. III.) 
No. V. Proceedings for 1878. (pp. 150.) 

No. VI. Early Records of the Town of Worces- 
ter, Book I., 1722-1739. (pp. 142.) 
No. VII. Proceedings for 1879. (pp. 150.) 
No. VIII. Early Records of the Town of Worces- 
ter, Book IL, 1739-1753. (pp. 145.) 
Nos. IX. to XII. Records of the Proprietors of 
Worcester, 1667 to 1788, with nearly 
300 plans, (pp. 336.) 
No. XIII. Proceedings for 1880. (pp. 80.) 
Nos. XIV. to XVI. Worcester Town Records from 

1753 to 1783. (in press.) 
No. XVII. Proceedings for 1881. (pp. 164.) 



l^ Nos. I. to XVI. are arranged to form four volumes under 
the name of Collections. A pamphlet containing Title Pages, 
Indexes and directions for binding the first three volumes will 
be furnished by the Librarian. No. XVI., now in press, will 
contain title page and index for volume IV. 



PROCEEDINGS 



Page 15, line 16, for 1754 read 1755. 
" 17, " 21, " Tonsley read Towsley. 
" 20, ', 19, " Cutler read Cutter. 
" 23, " 1, " 82 read 81. 




PROCEEDINGS 



For i88i. 



=*-^H=^>-j-^^s» 



S ''"^ Wi ^-^ ^^^^ regular monthlj^ meeting of the 

T% year was held at the Hall of the Society, 
¥M fS ^^^ Tuesday evening, January 4, 1881, and 
m ^&^,\..m ^^^ called to order by the President, Mr. 
Ellerv B. Crane. 

Present, Messrs. Clark Jillson, Shuniway, Ames, 
J. A. Smith, Potter, Staples, Roe, F. C. Jillson, Sea- 
grave, Lovell, Marsliiill, Metcalf, Tucker, Sumner, 
Paine, Lee, Dodge, Barton and F. P. Rice — 20. 

The oath of office was administered to Clerk Shum- 
way and Treasurer Smith by the Hon. Clark Jillson. 
The President in assuming the duties of his office 
made the following; address: — 



10 

Members of The Worcester Society of Antiquity : — Through 
the chano;e of certain events over which I had no immediate 
control, 3'ou have seen fit to select me as the presiding officer of 
this Association for the year 1881 ; an honor which was certainly 
not expected, and a position which 1 feel myself illy prepared to 
occupy ; and while with much diffidence I accept the responsi 
bility and return sincere thanks for this distinguished marlc of 
your esteem, I cannot forget the valuable services rendered this 
Society, by those who have so ably filled the office of President 
in times past, and the great difficulty under which I shall labor, 
with my short comings, not to make my efforts comparative 
failures. 

To me the re-election of our late President was by no means 
a surprise ; but his prompt and unqualified resignation of the 
office was a complete surprise, and it is to be regretted that we 
were so summarily deprived of the valuable services of one so 
well qualified by long experience as a presiding officer, and in 
the possession of such rare qualities, so essentiall}' needed in tlie 
chief officer of this Society. I trust, however, that although he 
declined to accept the office of President, we shall continue to 
have the aid of his good counsel and untiring zeal. 

In looking over my morning paper, one of the first items that 
Impressed me was, that an address was to be made by President 
Crane. This certainly was news, for that was my first intima- 
tion of it, but I consoled myself by thinking that it was a mis- 
print, the fact of the case being, that the President had sent a 
notice that an address would be delivered this evening, meaning 
of course his valedictor}', and that the adding of my name was 
a most serious mistake. Another thought that impressed me, 
was the need and existence in our midst, of so great a number 
of societies, I say need, for their very existence proves their 
necessit}'. Men are so constituted that they arc not satisfied 
with their own narrow limitations. Believing in progression, 
they are ever striving to enlarge the circle of their information 
and usefulness. From their varied inclinations and sensibilities 
spring up these varied and numerous societies of which there are 
about 100 in this city. Their objects are mainly to promote 
Charity, Sociability, Education, Temperance, Development and 



11 

Kcformation. Well eoiulucted tliov nro all usofiil ngcnts for 
iTood. There arc those who must have their Dehatino; Clubs, 
Social, Teuiperauce, lielbrui and CoiiimonwcaUh Clubs, Masonic 
Conclaves, Horticultural and Agricultural Societies, in which 
thej' are helped and elevated. 

It is vv'ith supreme satisfaction, and this is said with no spirit 
of boasting, that we can look back over the history- of this j'oung 
organization. Six years ago this present month was held the 
first preliminary meeting, and from that event this Society dates 
its existence. There was no ostentatious displa}- at its birth, 
and the beginning of the second year of its usefulness found ])ut 
twelve members upon its official register. Firm and steady has 
been the growth. In April, 1877, there were thirty-seven names 
upon the roll, while we begin this new year with a list number- 
ing one hundred and tiventy-six ; 88 active, 21 corresponding, 
17 honorary. So well were the foundations laid for a stable 
structure that not a single l)ackward step has been required. 
The genuine interest and manly determination everywhere dis- 
played by the members of The Worcester Society of Antiquity 
has given this organization a well deserved prominence among 
kindred societies throughout the country, and it is fair to con- 
jecture that )io elTort, however arduous it may be, will be spared 
to retain that honoral>le position. 

Our first pu1)lication (No. I.) appeared in March, 1877, and 
since that date we have given to the public 10 numbers, each 
averaging al)Out 1;^8 8vo. pages, containing much valuable his- 
torical matter, a considerable portion of which is now to be found 
only in the publications of this Society. Surely we have lieen 
so far true to the objects of our organization. It is especially 
gratifying to thus contemplate the progress made in the past, 
and I sincerely hope tliat our growth lias not been so rapid but 
tliat the fntuie may give us a picture none the less pleasing to 
look upon. Certainly never were our prospects more promising 
than now. These well filled shelves and this crowded room are 
indeed symbols of prosperity and success. The Librarian in- 
forms us that already more room is needed to enable him to 
display to advantage our rapidly increasing collection of books 
and curiosities, a fact that would at once suggest the enlarge- 



12 

mcnt of our quarters, necessitating an increase of the annual 
expense. Additional room would certainlj- l)e a most welcome 
aquisition, and it would no doubt be greatly to our advantage to 
have it, but I hope that careful attention will be given to the 
subject before an}- action is taken that will tend to increase our 
running expenses. Perhaps it would be better, for this 3'car, 
to be considerably crowded by the voluntary contributions of 
friends, than to crowd our friends to assist in paying for more 
spacious rooms ; however, this matter is in your hands, and 
whichever way 3'ou may decide, will no doubt tend to promote 
the best interests of the Society. 

Our monthly meetings have always been one of the chief fea- 
tures of this organization. They are exceedingly social, and 
there is a certain amount of inspiration to be derived in coming 
together in this room at least once a month and enjoying a brief 
discourse on some subject in harmony with our personal relish 
or in the interest of the objects of the Society. It is hoped that 
every member will value these meetings, and not onh- be pres- 
ent, but contribute in every wa}' possible to their enjo3'nient. 
An earnest eifort will be made to have something in the form of 
an essay read before the Society at least once a month during 
the year, and to secure such a result I would invite every mem- 
ber to contribute, and would esteem it a special favor if those 
willing to so contribute would hand in their names and give the 
time when they can be called upon. 

A word or two on finance. It ought to be said to the credit 
of our Executive Committee, that should all dues to the Socictj-, 
including the S3 tax levied for the 3'ear 1881, be paid to the 
Treasurer, there would be funds sutHcient to pa^' all probable 
obligations for the present j'ear and leave us free of debt Jan. 
1, 1882. We must not overlook the fact that our success as a 
Society' has been mainl}- due to the united exertions of individ- 
ual inembers, and that by our own hands we must stand or fall. 






13 

lion. Byron Weston of Dalton, Mast?., was elected 
an honorary member ; a-nd Tlieodore C. Bates, Ed- 
gar W. Warren and Reuben Colton, of Worcester, 
and Frank F. Starr of Middletown, Conn., were 
elected active members. 

Mr. Lovell presented resolutions complimentary 
to the Hon. Clark Jillson ;ind Mr. Diiniel Seagrave 
upon their retirement from the offices of President 
and Secretary in which thay had so ably served 
the Society. They were unanimously adopted and 
ordered to be printed in the Proceedings of 1880, 
where they will 1)0 found. Brief remarks were 
made by Messrs. Roe, Paine, Jillson, Seagrave, Bar- 
ton, Potter and others, and after some unimportant 
discussion upon matters pertaining to the conduct 
of the Society, the meeting was adjourned. 

The next regular meeting was held Tuesday eve- 
ning, Feb. 4, President Crane in the chair. Twenty- 
two members were present. Correspondence from 
several societies and institutions and the following 
letter from the Hon. Byron Weston were read : — 

CommonweaWi of Massachusells, 
Council Chamber. 

Boston, Jan'y 19, ISSl. 
Henry L. Siiumway, Sec't'y ; 

My dear sir: — Please thank "The Worcester Society of 

Antiquity" for doing me the honor of electing me an Honorary 

Member. I appreciate their kindness and accept with great 

pleasure. I am, dear sir, 

Yours trulv, 

BYRON WESTON. 



14 

The Committee* appointed at the December meet- 
ing for procuring additional room, made a report 
recommending the hiring of the apartment next east 
of the one occupied by the Society. The report was 
accepted and the committee authorized to engage 
the room. 

Mr. Thomas A. Dickinson read an interesting 
sketch of the life of Eleazer Smith, the inventor of 
the Card-setting Machine, from an autobiographical 
manuscript in his posession. This with some modi- 
fications is here printed. Mr. Dickinson exhibited 
a portrait of Mr. Smith, and also one of the first 
machines made by him. 



STcelch of Die life of Eleazer Smith, Vie inrcnlor of 
Vie Card-Selling Machine, from a manuscript wriilen 
hy himself, aboul Vie year 1828. 



]iY THOMAS A. DICKINSON. 



During the revolutionary war, and clirectl}' after, hand cards 
for carding cotton and wool were made in a few places in New 
England, including Boston, Framingham and Cunil)erland. The 
process of manufacture was almost wholly by hand. In 1785, 
Edmund Snow began the manufacture of hand cards in Leicester. 
In 1790, Pliny Earle made the first machine cards for Samuel 
Slater. The holes in the leather numbering 100,000 were prick- 
ed bj' Mr. Earle with two needles in the end of a stick. From 
this commencement the business of card making rapidl}' increased 
in this town until Leicester became the great center of the trade 
in this country, and before the introduction of card setting 
machinery, cards were made here to the value of $200,000. 



* Messrs. Lovell, Crane and Dodge. 



15 

The holes were pvickod in the leather ami the teeth eut and 
bent 1)}' a maehine (of wliich we have one here to-night, made 
by the subject of this sketch, for Pliny P^^arle & Brother, of Lei- 
cester) and all set in by hand, giving employment to hundreds 
of families in the vicinity. In Is;)! there were 17 Card Facto- 
ries in the town of Leicester, and from this center grew the other 
manufactories which were started about this time in Worcester, 
P^nfield, rhiladelphia and other places. The manuscript from 
which the following sketch is drawn, was obtained from Mr. Eli- 
jah Thompson, of Wal[)()le, (now deceased) who was with Mr. 
Smith during his last sickness, and received it as a gift from 
him. It is now in the possession of Thomas A. Dickinson of 
Worcester. It is written in Mr. Smith's own hand, plain and 
distinct, and is entire with the exception of the first two pages, 
whicn relate to his boyhood. 

He was born in Medfield, Mass., April 1, ITod, but in early 
life removed to the adjoining town of Walpole. His house and 
shop which stood on the highest elevation of land in the north- 
ern part of Walpole, and one of the fnust locations in the town, 
was long since demolished. Tlie cellar hole, a few old bricks 
and some old poplar trees only remain to mark the spot. 

His education was simply what the village schools of those 
days afforded. He was a good reader, possessed a very reten- 
tive memory, and had considerable knowledge of astronomy, 
chemistry and l)otany, and was also quite skillful in certain 
branches of surgery. It is said that he was frequently visited 
by professional gentlemen among whom was Dr. Jackson, of 
Boston. But it was in mechanical inventions and operations 
that he displayed his greatest genius. When a boy he made a 
wooden spring tiap lor catching rabbits, very similar to the 
common steel trap now in use. 

At the age of IT) he made a watch complete, the case being 
made of pewter. He says "The construction of this watch 
movement was so calculated that it had to beat a third quicker 
than common, to go fast enough, until I put in a crown wheel 
with a less number of teeth." The tools which he used consisted 
of a pocket knife, a three-square file and compasses. The watch 
he presented to Mr. Aaron Wight, of Medway, who was so 



16 



inucli i)leaso(l with, liis iiigennitv tlint lie gave him liis lioanl (01- 
four luoutlis, and ln'li)e(l liim make tools lor watch ami clock 
making. The next ^'ear he made a wooden clock, using a wine 
glass for the bell, the wheels being made af apple-tree wood. 

This attracted the attention of one Simon l\!ttee, a clock 
maker of Wrontham. who wish.ed to take young Smith as an 
apprentice, but his lather could not spare him, nor had he any 
faith in that kind (jf business. And here he says '•'My father 
found so much of my time employed in this way that he deter- 
mined to put a stop to it, and forbade me working at such things, 
saj'ing that it w'as no profit to me. 1 soon found myself embar- 
rassed, and to give up the taste for these things, I found impos- 
sible ; but not wishing to disobey m}' parents, I thought if I 
redeemed time and did nothing for myself when he set me about 
other business that it would not be criminal. Howexer, this 
was distasteful, so the only means was to steal time or work in 
secret, which I did man}- an hour by tire-light in the evening." 

The next thing which he speaks of is a wooden gun lock which 
he applied to a stock of wood, with an iron barrel in the inside. 
This he carried on training davs much to the anuisement of the 
soldiers, who tired it a great number of times. From this time 
to the commencement of the revolutionary war, his desire for 
mechanism increased, and was chiefly confined to clock work. 
A clock which he made about this time is now i-unning in Wal- 
pole, Massachusetts.* 

"In the summer of 177(5," he writes, "there was a requisition 
for men to enlist for Ticonderoga, and as the soldiers were very 
loth to 'list, and I conceived the cause of liberty to be good, 



* This clock is now in jjosscssion of ^Ir. Ijowis Eowker, of Walpolc Mass. 
It has been running over 100 years, keeps good time, and is probably the 
only one of this pattern ever made by Mr, Smith. The construction is sim- 
ple and curious. The workmanship would do credit to any clock makc^r of 
modern times. The face is of brass, about 7 inches in diameter, Avith the 
figures well cut, and the name Ei.f.azer Smith neatly engraved on the same. 

It has but three wheels, and pendidum which beats seconds. The man- 
ner of winding is peculiar, the key being inserted through the arbor on 
which the hands move, and wound once in 24 ho\u\s. 



17 

induced inc to try tho military life, ulthougli I had no taste, nci- 
tlier had I a constitution for the task. Wc set out to marcli 
the 2i)th of July, and reached Ticonderoga sometime in August. 
We were quartered in tents. The long march and exposure 
brought on the cami) trouble — dysentery — making me unfit for 
duty. While in the lio8i)ital one of the company, Kphraim 
Smith, had a watch which was out of order and would not go. 
This I repaired with my pen-knife. On the 14th of September 
I was arrested and put under guard for passing bad monc}', the 
bill being so large as 40 shillings, 'Sword in hand' 'Massachu- 
setts,' that I did not pass it before, and Iiad forgotten where I 
had taken it. While in prison the same fellow who had given 
me the bill was brought in for a like crime. In a moment it 
brought to mind the circumstance of my taking the bill of this 
man, who tended store for one Jones who lived below the fort. 
When brought before the court martial, the}' asked me if I knew 
it was a counterfeit bill? I told them yes, but did not know it 
when 1 passed it. On holding it to the light they showed me 
that it had })een scraped out '4 and G pence' and made into 40 
shillings.' I told them of the man I had taken it of, whose 
name was Amos Tonsle}', then under guard- This man was 
brought in and denied giving me the bill, saj-ing that he could 
prove that I told him I could not tell where I had taken the bill, 
in consequence of which they would not give me my oath, but 
condemned me to be guiltj- of passing the currency of Massa- 
chusetts, knowing it to be counterfeit. I pleaded innocence of 
the charge and asked them to enquire of the Colonel of m^"- 
regiment about my character, being liorn in the same town and 
well acquainted with me. They asked me how I dared to call 
my Colonel to support my villainy, — that I was capable of doing- 
it by examining my hand writing, and because I could mend 
watches with a pen-knife. So I was sent to jail, and my doom 
was twice read in general orders. Our Lieutenant was sent or 
came to me desiring me to own it, saying I should fare better 
if I did. I told him mj' punishment would be just if I owned 
to a lie ; that I was willing to die for innocence, but did'nt 
thank him for his advice." 



18 

It soon became evident that young Smith was not a dangerous 
man, and he was allowed considerable liberty about the fort, and 
after 15 days was restored to his rank. 

In another adventure at Ticonderoga, he came near being shot 
as a deserter. He was detailed with some others to go to Crown 
Point for wheat and hay. They made up their load by lashing 
two boats together, and returned to camp quite late. The others 
left the boat, but he got leave to sleep on the hay until morn- 
ing. During the night the wind came up and drifted him out 
into the lake a mile or more. "The guard boat came out and 
hailed me. At first I did not answer. The third time the}^ fired 
a ball near my head w^hich waked me up. I expected they 
would help me off but they would not. Being near the middle 
of the lake, and finding it impossible to row against a head wind, 
and seeing no signs of relief and being hungry, I started for the 
opposite shore, where near the land a boat overhauled me, and 
we returned to camp." 

After this he was drafted to go on a secret expedition to 
Rhode Island, under Capt. Adam Peters, of Medfield. This was 
contrary to his ideas of liberty, and while stationed at the house 
of a Quaker in Little Compton, he conversed with them on the 
propriety- of taking arms. The Quakers must have had consider- 
able influence upon him, for he seemed never to have previousl}- 
had the desire to run awa}'. However, he says, 'T concluded 
to go, taking this resolution, that I never would take up arms 
again. I escaped safe home, and have never taken arms since. 
I wish to do good and not harm to m^- fellow creatures, and all 
mankind, and in the sequel of this narrative shall endeavor to 
show that I have contril>uted as much to the real advantage of 
the community as any person in America." 

After his return home, and during the war, lie seems to have 
been busy at work inventing machines for making cai'ds, nails, 
tacks, pins, needles &c., in order, he sa\-s, "to do without Eng- 
land." His father was something of a Torj-, and always disi)u- 
ted the possibilit}- of doing without England, on account of all 
these articles which were brought from there. 

One of his first machines after his return home was for ma- 
king solid headed pins, and also drawing the wire for the same. 



19 

In one day ho made I r)()0 pins, and he says most of the time was 
spent in i)ointing them on a grindstone. He was at work dnring 
this time for John Rogers, of Newton, clock maker. Jeremiali 
Wilkinson, of Cnmberland, card maker, employed him to con- 
strnet a machine for making card teeth, which he finished in one 
month, capable of cntting 3 sorts of wire. The value of a pair 
of hand cards at this time was Ki shillings. This machine, he 
says, answered the purpose well, and he soon had calls from 
three different i)arties who wished to employ him to construct 
like machines. 

''By this time," he says, 'T found great difliculty in doing 
work to my mind away from home, to convince people where I 
worked of the necessity of having proper tools and convenien- 
cies, therefore I resolved to have a shop of my own. My father 
consented to give me a piece of wild land and help me build a 
house. Everything excepting timl^er and stone, in the line of 
building material, was scarce and high." The chimney w^as 
made of stone excepting 500 old brick which he obtained from 
Boston to furnish the fire-place and oven. "My building being 
enclosed and all the implements and tools I had collected being 
moved in, and likewise two of my sisters to keep house." 

Necessarily, in building his house, he had run in debt, and 
here the great troubles of his life commenced. His creditors 
pressed him continually so that he was obliged to hire out by 
the day, clearing woodland and doing farm work, the price of 
labor then being about o shillings per day. 

Aliout this time Jonathan Hale, card maker, of Framingham, 
heard of young Smitli, and l)eing pleased with his ingenuity, 
offered to hire him and help pay his debts. In relation to his 
living with Hale, he says, "I worked for Hale doing anything 
he could not get done l)y other men, such as fixing his bark 
mill, mending cart wheels, improving machines for making card 
{QQth and card 'pritch in (/ machines: also machines for making 
card tacks and hand card boards ; and a variety of other busi- 
ness too tedious to mention or remember. Eighteen months 
had now elapsed and I had not began the Gnmd 3fachine to 
Sticl: Cards. Having made machines for bending the teeth, 
and otliers for pricking the holes in the leather, for several years 



20 

he had maintained the idea that the two couhl l)e united and 
made into one machine ; and it here appears that Hale was one 
of tlie few men wlio at tliat time liad any faith in liis plans. 
While in the em[)loy of Hale he worked under lock and key, in 
order to keep him away from the .sheriff, I\Ir. Hale thinking tliat 
many of liis debts were unjust and ought not to be paid. 

After leaving Hale, in 17.S4, liis attention was devoted to ma- 
chinery for making nails from cold iron. The cutting sliears 
which he invented at this time, and which were made for liim by 
Isaac Cozzens, of Sherborn, afterwards came into general use. 
The nail machine he describes ver\- minutely. Tliis was made 
before any patent laws existed in the United States. 

There was an agreement between Hale and Smith relating to 
the card stickiiKj nuirhiin'^ and Hale becoming somewhat dis- 
couraged, offered to give up his right in the machine for £'.)i). 
As soon as Smitli had settled tliis matter he was sent for liy one 
Giles Richards, of Boston, wlio was then forming a company 
for the manufacture of cards. Tliis company consisted of (iiles 
Richards, Andrew an<l Ciershom Cutler, AVilliam and Aukjs 
Whittemore. Mr. Smith worked for this comptiny a year and 
nine months, making improvements in card making machinery. 
While here he invented a press drill, which was adopted at that 
time as being the liest. 

In the autumn of 1 7<S'.), when Gen. Washington visited Boston. 
he was invited to visit the factory, and see the pi'ocess of cai'd 
making. In relation to this, i\Ir. Smitli says that some one got 
into the factoiy and so disarranged the machine that it would 
not operate well. Xevertheless, it attracted Washington's atten- 
tion more than all he liad seen in his travels, and he iiKjuii-ed 
who made it. and whelhei' he was Aun'rlriin hani. 

Al'tei' his retui'n iVoiii liosloii he hee.'iiiie vei'V Uiiieli debilil aled . 
oeeasioiied li\- close a|)j)li('a1 ion and study. The* next niaehiiie 
of which he speaks, was an inqirovemenl which he made in Ihe 
nail machine, to cut nails with the grain of the iron and I'eed 
itself. This occupied the whole of a year. Sometime aftei'this 
Avhile he was at work building a machine foi' making card teeth, 
he says "I was visited by Col. Thomas Denny, of Leicester, 
who paid me 10 dollars "earnest," and afterwai'ds gave me N.'! 



21 

(lollnrs for i(. Ii> 17',).') Jncol) IVrkins, of Xcwliuryport, sent 
lor nw to work Tor him in his Itnid works. 1 round lie claimed 
tho cutting of nails fi'om cold iron upon the same princii)le 1 had 
made in 17.S1. I would not consent to give up my right to tho 
invention and so. after working (! days, returned Iiome, receiv- 
ing 10 dollai-s and a bogus order for K! shillings. It- was said 
!)y Perkins that my hi-st day's woi-k in lifting his machine, earned 
him 70 dollars cU-ar i)ro1it. On my return home 1 called to see 
AV^illiam Whittemorc in Uoston, who asked me if T thought it 
possible to make a machine to stick cards? 1 told him yes, and 
that I intended to linish mine as soon as 1 had money of my own 

to do it." 

It a|)pears from his conversation with INIr. Whittemorc at this 
time, and also from the fact that he was visited from time to 
time by members of this comi)any, that Mr. Smith mistrusted 
that Amos Wliittemore. who was the chief mechanic in the con- 
cern, was at work on the card sticking machine. INIr, Smith 
had. at this time, his nuichine in i)rocess of construction, which 
consisted of an iron l)ed-i)late about 'li inches square, with 
wrought iron i)Osts I'or the centers and working jiarts. 

The story told liy some of the old inhabitants of Walpole with 
whom I have conversed, is that lAIr. Smith completed his ma- 
chine so far as to 1)(> al)le to set the teeth straight through the 
leather. Amos Whittemorc at the same time was at work on a 
similar machine, and occasionally visiting Mr. Smith, getting all 
the information desired, and applying it to his machine. Mr. 
Smith's suspicion Iteing aroused, he questioned Mr. Whittemorc 
if he was not then Imildirig a Card Sticking Machine, wdiich he 
denit'd, and promised lie never would. However, IMr. Whitte- 
morc cumpletcd his machine, by pulling on the second liend, 
and immediately appiitMl foi- a i>atent. This was in 17'.)7. 

It is very eviilenl thai the idea oi'igiiiated with IMr. Smith, 
\\)i- 1.") yeais previous to the year 17;)7, hv had in his mind the 
combination of the two machines, and intended some day to 
complete, as he calliMl it. the r//vo(J Murlnuc to Stick ('ards. 
It is also evident that the card makers of that time who knew 
Mr. Smitli. and also liis fellow townsmen, were looking to him 
as the only man capable of completing the machine. 



22 

In relation to the machine patented by Whittemore, in 1797, 
Mr. William B. Earle, now living in Needham, 82 years old and 
blind, who was one of the first to improve the card setting ma- 
chine, saj^s : "It was crude, rnde and imperfect. No material 
improvement was made npon it, nor was the price of cards re- 
duced during the 2i) years in which its use was confined exclu- 
sively to the Whittemore family." Cards were made by hand 
up to the 3'ear 1828. 

It is evident that the treatment which Mr. Smith received 
from the Whittemore Compan}-, and the fact of their obtaining 
the patent on the machine, had a depressing efi'ect upon him for 
several years. Still he completed his machine, but never deri- 
ved any benefit from it. He originated and improved man}- 
other machines, especiall}^ that for cutting nails from cold iron ; 
and also one for making wrought nails. One of his inventions, 
on which he obtained a patent in 1808, was a machine for trim- 
ming straw braid. Others profited b}' this, chief among wlioni 
was Dr. Nathaniel Miller, of Franklin. The machine for prcs- 
sino- straw bonnets, which was used for vears in the manufaeto- 
ries of Medfield and vicinit}', was invented by him. It is helie- 
ved that none of his townsmen ever availed themselves dishonor- 
ably of his inventions. 

Mr. Smith was of an honest, frank and candid disposition, 
alwa^'s ready to comnuniicate his ideas and plans ; but it is said 
in this respect, that during the latter part of his life he became 
more cautious and reserved, espociall}- during his last years, 
when he had in mind a machine for braiding straw, which he did 
not live to complete. When at work upon some new machine 
he would often spend days and nights in his shop without allow- 
ing himself time to rest or eat, much to the detriment of his health. 

His exti'eme bashfiilness when a l)oy, he snys, worked verv 
much to his disadvantage in love matters, often making him a 
subject of ridicule, but did not discourage him or cause him to re- 
linquish his taste for mechanical pursuits. Like many inventors 
and benefactors of our race, he was poor. With a family of five 
or six children dependent npon him, liis life was a constant 
struggle, he often being obliged to hire out by the day or month 
doing farm work, to enable him to support them. 



23 

He died in Walpolc, March 9, 183(;, nged 82 years. In 1854 
an ellbrt was made by tlic iSelecluien of the town, to erect a 
monument to his memory, but witliout success. Since tlien a 
plain marl)lc slab has been erected in the Walpole Rural Cem- 
etery, to mark the spot where lies one of the greatest geniuses 
America ever produced. 



The reading of this paper was followed by an in- 
formal discussion in which Mr. Samuel W. Kent, for 
many years a Card Machine manufacturer in Wor- 
cester, Messrs. Knight, Staples, Dickinson, Shumw\ay 
and H. M. Smith participated. 



The next regular meeting was held on Tuesday 
evening, March 1, the President in the chair; twenty- 
five members and visitoi's were present. Mr. Ham- 
mond W. Hubbard was elected an active member. 

Mr. Henry M. Smith then read a paper entitled 
"A History of , Cold Winters,'' which was full of val- 
uable statistical information and interesting details 
of severe winters in the past, carefully selected and 
admirably arranged. Remarks upon the same were 
made by the Rev. George Allen, whose memory, 
covering full four score years, was vivid in recollec- 
tions of the old-time winters. He was followed by 
Messrs. Tolman, Crane, Jillson and Sprague. 



24 

The April meeting was held on the evening of 
Tuesday the 5th, President Crane in the chair. 

Mr. William H. Bartlett gave his '■'•Personal Rec- 
ollections of the Louisiana CamjKiign of 1863." 

This paper was a well written and interesting 
narration of the exciting scenes witnessed by the 
writer as a member of the 48th Regt. It was listen- 
ed to with much jileasure.''' Adjourned for two weeks. 



A special meeting was held on Tuesda}'^ evening, 
April 19, in commemoration of the Battle of Lexing- 
ton. President Crane presided, and 40 members and 
visitors were present. Mr. Alfred S. Roe read a 
paper entitled ^^ Three April Days^' comprising his- 
torical sketches of April 19, 1689, April 19, 1775, 
and April 19, 1861. This paper, carefullj^ jorepared 
and eloquently delivered, was listened to with 
marked attention. 



* The Committee on Publication would gladly have printed this paper, 
which Avas one of the best ever presented at our meetings, had not Mr. 
Bartlett intended to make further use of it. 





THREE, APKIL DAYS 



BY ALFRED S. UOE. 



Do NOT be misled by my title into thinking that I am to discourse 
upon the beauties of Spring, or to enlarge upon the manifold 
pleasures of the vernal season ; for it is not of Nature that I 
would discourse to-night, but of man and his deeds. It is with 
reference to our own Old Bay State and her interesting, na}', 
thrilling history I wouhl deal ; and your attention is asked as 
we glance along through many years and try to find wherein 
Massachusetts is especially interested in Three April Days. 

We reckon time by years, decades, centuries, cycles, accord- 
ing as we speak of ourselves, the state or the earth. Massachu- 
setts has passed into that age when she can reckon her years in 
centuries ; but her interesting, recurring year is not one of the 
hundreds. It is less by several years, and its anniversary falls 
in April, on the 19th, the day whose evening finds us gathered 
here. Palfrey in his preface to the third volume of the History 
of New England says : "In the History of New England, there 
are chronological paralelisms, not unworth}- of remark. Some 
critical events in it were just a centur}- apart. In 1665, the 
courtiers tried her temper with Lord Clarendon's Commission ; 
in 176'), they tried it with Mr. George Grenville's Stamp-Act. 
In 1675 began the attack on her freedom, which I have record- 
ed in this volume ; in 1775 began the invasion which led to her 
independence of Great Britain. But the cycle of New England 
is eighty-six years. Massachusetts having been betrayed to her 



26 

enemies by her most eminent and trusted citizen, Joseph Dud- 
ley, the people, on the 19th day of April, 1689, committed their 
prisoner, the deputy of the Stuart King, to the fort in Boston, 
which he had built to overawe them. Another eighty -six 3'ears 
passed, and Massachusetts had been betrayed to her enemies ])y 
her most eminent and trusted citizen, Thomas Hutchinson, when, 
at Lexington and Concord, on the 19th of April, 1775, her 
farmers struck the first blow in the War of American Independ- 
ence. Another eight3'-six years ensued, and a domination of 
slaveholders, more odious than th/it of Stuarts or of Guelphs, 
had been fastened upon her, when, on the 19th of April, 18G1, 
the streets of Baltimore were stained b}' the blood of her soldiers 
on their way to uphold liberty and law by the rescue of the 
National Capitol." These, then, are my Three April Days, and 
the above thought of Palfrey mj' text. April 19th, 



1689, 



ms, 1861. 



The events which these days witnessed have modeled us a 
people, and made us a nation. These days followed each other 
in logical as well as chronological order. Without the first, 
neither the second nor the third could have existed. Deprived 
of the deeds of these days, we know not what degree of abase- 
ment we might have suffered, and the mind shrinks from the 
contemplation of what might be our present condition. But 
Massachusetts soil is sterile. The skeleton of mother earth lies 
extremely near the surface. Men, here, must delve early and 
work late to obtain from the land a maintenance. The manual 
labor uecessar}' to win from the earth a living, earl}- fixed in the 
minds of Massachusetts people an utter abhorrence of all that 
would, in the least, detract from the rights of self government. 
The acts which had hardened the muscles of the body had made 
equalh' indexible the New England character. Men of more 
genial climes might submit to grinding despotism, but the sturdy 
Anglo-Saxo!i who might, himself, have been one of Cromwell's 
Ironsides, found tlie soil of this new home even more conducive, 
than that of his old, to the vigorous assertion of his rights, and 
we see him resisting the demands of a tyrannous and apostate 
King. And while James was seeking safety in the Court of the 



27 

Grand Monarchy his miserable minion Andros was seized nnd 
shut up in the very fort wliich he had built to overawe the town 
oflioston, — the tragedy of Ilanian repeated. 

But another king and another deputy sought to once more 
lay the hand of oppression on Massachusetts men, and agnin 
these men rebelled and, at Concord and Lexington, in the "8hot 
heard 'round the world," did service for themselves, for civiliza- 
tion, for humanity. And then that later da}' ! Even now our 
blood tingles at the thought. The events are not so far away 
that we cannot recall them all, and in the memor}' of the Mas- 
sachusetts '•'•Sixth" exult over the proud privilege of the Old 
Commonwealth. Thus seriatim. Now to 

%£! 19, 1689. 

A Stuart king was on the throne of England when the May- 
llower put out on her memorahlc voyage. That First James, 
who was a marvel of wisdom and of folly, and who surprised all 
by the abundance and variety of his knowledge, and equally 
disgusted all by his egotism and pedantry, fully merited his 
cognomen of the "wisest fool in Europe." To escape him and 
such as him, our Pilgrim and Puritan ancestors sought refuge 
in this new world. His unhappy son was sovereign when the 
Arbella weighed anchor and, sailing from Cowes, bore into 
Massachusetts Bay the germs of the colony, which, with the one 
at Plymouth, was to undo tyranny and to make a home for the 
oppressed of all nations. They sought and obtained certain 
priveleges in their Charter. They Avere practically self govern- 
ing. They constituted almost the ideal Democracy ; perfect, bar- 
ring some suffrage restrictions. They were guaranteed by their 
Poyal Chaiter, the power forever of electing their own Governor, 
Deputy Governor and assistants, to make laws and ordinances 
not repugnant to those of Elngland, for their own benefit and 
the goverinnent of persons inhabiting their territor}-. The peo- 
ple had left f^ngland when the latter was most prosperous, and 
their only grievance was the inability to hold the religious belief 
agreeable to themselves. Coming to Massachusetts, they held 
their lands by as good a title as that by which they had possessed 
their English farms. Of course, then, this Charter was, in every 



28 

sense, their Palladium, and to it they clung with the utmost 
tenacit}', but from an early date, there arose a contest, on the 
part of the home government to recall it, and, on that of the 
Colony to retain the same. The home government felt that it 
had accorded too much to the colonists ; the latter were deter- 
mined to retain all they had. 

In 1635, they determined to resist a Royal Governor should 
one be sent from P^ngland. The fort on Castle Island was 
ordered perfected and a tower set up on Beacon Hill that, dan- 
ger from an attack arising, the country' might be alarmed. 
Confusion ensued in the English Court. Charles soon found 
enough to occupy himself on his own soil, though in 1638 there 
came an order for the instant return of the Charter to England, 
on which the General Court, after some months of pondering, 
concluded to send a letter of excuses for not compl^'ing. AVin- 
throp's reply is worthy of perusal, setting forth as he does the 
reasons for the retention of the document. And even when 
England had deposed her King, and Cromwell ruled, our Colon}^ 
was, in no wa}', disposed to recognize the supremac}- of English 
authority. When, in 1651, Parliament desired the return of the 
old Charter and the taking of a new one and that thereafter 
government should be administered in its name, the wil}' colon- 
ists took a whole 3-ear to fashion their reph', still manifesting a 
commendable unwillingness to walk into the English spiders' 
parlor. 

When the "Merrv Monarch" or Charles the II. came to the 
throne he was pleased to renew all the power of the original 
Charter, though he added a dash of bitter to his sweet by enjoin- 
ing the Colon}- to require the oath of allegience and that thence- 
forward Justice should be administered in his name. Accord- 
ingly the Colonists published the "King's Missive" and then "did 
as they were a mind to." In 1665 came the fn-st Ro3-al Com- 
mission. Clarendon had sent this to reduce the obnoxious 
Puritans to a proper condition of humility, Charles had grant- 
ed the territorj' between the Connecticut and the Delaware to 
his brother, the Duke of York, and here we ma}- say tlie trouble 
began. We must pass over the debates between tlie Govern- 
ment of the Colon}' and its Royal Commission, though the latter 



29 

found itself beaten at all points, and finall}- retired completely 
discomiited. At last England despairing of the return of the 
Charter, instituted Chancery proceedings and in 1(584 obtained 
a decree vacating the Charter. Blassachusetts by no act of her 
own was humbled. She lapsed into her Ih-st estate. Her terri- 
tory now was as thoroughly that of the King of England as when 
discovered b}- the Cabots. In the same year, Colonel Kirke, of 
subsequent West of England notoriety, was appointed the first 
Royal Governor ; Init his Royal Masters found too much for him 
to do in England to spare him from home, so Massachusetts 
was spared the infliction of his presence. A recreant and mis- 
creant son of Massachusetts, Joseph Dudley, became the tool 
of oppression under the title of President. 

The year 1686 was just closing when Sir Edmund Andros 
landed in Boston. During two and a third years of his stay in 
the Colony he succeeded in making his name more hateful than 
that of any man who had preceded him on these shores, and 
moreover a synonym for tyranny through all time. James II. 
had made Andros Governor of New England with the expecta- 
tion that the recalcitrant colonists would now submit ; but the 
bed to which Andros had been commended was not one of roses. 
He early set himself about carrying into effect the same plans 
which had rendered his Master so distasteful to the people of old 
England. He claimed that everv foot of Massachusetts soil was 
the King's, and the latter might oust the present occupants 
whenever he chose. More than that, Massachusetts men were 
not entitled to the imuuinities of Englishmen ; that they were 
dependencies on the British Crown, a collection of Lazaruses, 
so to speak. Andros was the fit tool of a most despicable crea- 
ture ; by far the worst of his erring line. Tie scrupled at noth- 
ing that would enhance his own or James's power. His deputed 
power was almost absolute. Hostile to the prevailing religion 
of the colony, he was anxious that prelacy should be supreme. 
Judoe Sewall says that sixtv Red-Coats attended Andros when 
he landed at Long Wharf and was escorted by the citizens to the 
head of King, now State street. 

Dudley, the late President, became a ju'dge of the Superior 
Court. Mandates were sent to the various towns and the 



30 

Commissioners or Selectmen failing to complj^ with the demands 
were liable to punishment by fine. The Meeting-house of Bos- 
ton was opened for Episcopal service, when there were no Epis- 
copal worshippers. All public records of the "late Government" 
were directed to be brought to Boston. Wills had to be pro- 
bated and mortgages registered in Boston, where enormous fees 
were charged. The form of taking oaths was changed from the 
Puritanic uplifting of the hand to the (to them) idolatrous kiss- 
ing of the Bible. The imposition of taxes was wholly arbitrary, 
and citizens were obliged to take out new patents for lands the}' 
had held by purchase, in some instances, from the natives. 

Many of the towns refused to compl}' with the Governor's 
exactions and hence followed trials where juries were packed in 
the most flagrant manner. To Mr. Wise, on trial, Dudley 
said, "You must not think that the laws of England follow you 
to the end of the earth," and moreover that he had no other 
pi'ivileges left than not to be sold as a slave. Andros gave out 
that titles might be confirmed b}' application to Jiim and the 
payment of quitrents. A man venturing to disregard this edict 
was liable to be dispossessed at any moment, as, in fact, many 
were. The other New England colonies gradually fell in with 
the rule of Andros and endorsed the same with tolerable resia;- 
nation ; but at no time was the feeling towards him in Massa- 
chusetts other than that of abhorrence. Tradesmen were com- 
pelled to restrict their buying and selling to their own towns. 
Heavy imposts were laid for the sake of increasing liis Majesty's 
Revenues. Onl}- one town meeting Avould on any [)retext, bo 
allowed during the year. 

Matters went from bad to worse till finally Increase Mather 
was sent to England to endeavor to obtain some redress for tlie 
Colonj-'s many wrongs. The time of Andros was spent in mak- 
ing semi-royal progresses through his dominions, now extend- 
ing from the St. Croix to the Delaware, and in finding new 
measures to oppress his devoted subjects. The birth of a 
Prince of Wales was, by him, greeted with the utmost joy and 
the proclamation of a day of Thanksgiving. Mather, mean- 
while was laying siegfe to James's ear, but with little success, 
the King being willing to make a show of sympathy while in 



31 

reality his heart was harder than Pharoah's. But llic end was 
approacliiug, though more than three and a half months had 
passed since the night when England's King had slyly slipped 
out of his bed-chamber, caiTving his country's Seal which he 
spitefully threw into tlic Thames in his flight. James had taken 
up his residence at St. Germain's while the h;md of Andros was 
tolerated in New England. The crisis was impending, though 
this English P2gyptian softened not his heart, nor for a mo- 
ment relaxed his grasp. The train was laid and the explo- 
sion at hand when^ on April 4th, there came a man, named 
Winslow, bringing the proclamation of William of Orange on 
landing in Phigland. The uncertainty of affairs in the Old Coun- 
try' was doubtless all that had prevented this uprising months 
before. Two weeks elapsed after Winslow's coming and Andros 
had taken refuge in Fort Hill, where without any note of visible 
preparation, on the ISth of April, Boston, at an early hour was 
all astir. It was Thursday. The weekly lecture at the First 
Church had brought a concourse from the neighboring towns. 
At the north end of the town it was reported that there was an 
uprising at the south and vice versa. At nine o'clock the drums 
beat throughout the town and the ensign was set up on Beacon 
Hill. The old magistrates were escorted to the Council Cham- 
l)er, and the royal orlicers were arrested and put in gaol. At 
noon was proclaimed the ''Declaration" of the gentlemen, mer- 
chants and inhabitants of Boston, and of the territory adjacent. 
The declaration concludes with these words : "We do therefore 
seize upon the persons of those few ill men who (next to our 
sins) have ])een the grand authors of our miseries. * * * * 
We commit our enterprise unto the blessing of Him who hears 
the cry of the oppressed." Palfrey thinks this declaration the 
work of time, prepared a long while before, awaiting the proper 
moment for its promulgation, and that Cotton Mather was its 
author. At two o'clock the town was full of soldiers, the signal 
on Beacon Hill having done its work. Charlestown held several 
hundred men waiting an opportunity to cross. Andros had sent 
a messenger, desiring a conference with the principal citizens ; 
but his request was denied, while he himself was summoned to 
surrender all his powers on penalty of having the fort knocked 



32 

to pieces about his ears. The frigate Rose, lying in the harbor, 
made ready for a fight ; her commander declaring he would die 
before he would surrender ; but his boat sent to the shore to 
bring off Andros and his attendants was seized and its crew 
disarmed. Speedy work was now done. Mr. Nelson arran- 
ged his men on two sides of the fort and pointed his can- 
non at the same. The Governor was convinced that discretion 
was the better part of valor and so unconditionall}" surrendered ; 
his attendants, most of them going to gaol and he, under a 
strong guard to the house of Usher. So ends the 18th of April. 
A grand da3''s work. The frigate as good as surrendered. 
The castle was given up, and on the 19th of April, 1689, the 
willing tool of England's last Stuart king was immured in the fort. 
It is not unworthy of record that, like a famous man of later 
times, he tried to make his escape in female apparel ; but was 
discovered as in the more modern instance by his feet. It is a 
difficult thing for the Devil and his devotees to hide their hoofs. 
The first period of Massachusetts histor}' was ended. She was 
again a ruler to herself. 



*»■• 



Spfii 19, irYo. 



Concord and Lexington ! What a wealtli of associations 
clusters around these words ! To Massachusetts, to American 
ears they have come to be talismanic. The historian has accu- 
rately described and the poet has rhapsodized and ^-et the theme 
is ever interesting. The time had again come when something 
must be done to stem the tide of British arrogance and aggres- 
sion. The mother had again reached a point where, to her the 
chief use of Colonies was to pay the expenses of home govern- 
ment, and firm resistance was necessary. Committees of safety 
had decided that the stand should be made. Minute men had 
been drilled. Ever^'thing was in readiness for the storm when 
Gage arranged to send his troops to Concord to destroy the 
stores and to arrest, if possible, those "arch traitors," Hancock 
and Samuel Adams. 

On the eve of April 18th the lantern gleamed from the spire 
of the Old North Church' henceforth to be Liberty's beacon. 



33 

Paul Revere on the opposite side of the tide had caught its Hashes 
and was olT on his mission of ahirni 

"'rhr()Uii;h cvltv Middlesex villai^e and farm, 
For the country folk to Ik- up and to arm." 

Never man i-ode on liolier errand. His hoof-beats had not 
sunk into silence before the country people were making ready 
for the conrtict that now seemed certain. All along the route, 
they were grasping their weapons and bidding adieu to those 
who were to remain at home. To many it was the final farewell. 
These men had counted the cost and knew perfectly well what 
they were entering upon. At Lexington he aroused Hancock 
and Adams and left flashing lights behind him as he rode on to 
Concord town. It was half past four on the morning of the 
li)th that the Ked Coats entered Lexington, and Maj. Pitcairn 
commanded the militia to lay down their arms. Colonel Smith 
oave the command to lu'e and eight Americans sank in death — 
the first victims in the strife. Put the Ib-itish could not tarry 
long in Lexington. They were soon on their way to Concord 
and how strange that Concord (peace) should be the name of 
the first battle in tlie great struggle for freedom. All this time 
church bells had been ringing and signal guns firing so that the 
enemy knew perfectly well that it was no easy task they were 
essaying. Names, since become household words, were now 
heard for the first time, l^arson Emerson appeared accoutred 
for battle. Major John Puttrick was among the first „to bestir 
himself. Prescott, Faulkner, Parkman ! Put where all w^ere 
so brave, why distinguisli? 

It was scarcely more than l)ieakfast time when the Pritisli 
were discoverecl marching into the toAvn. The morning was 
such an one as we love to tliink of associating with the month 
of April; l)ut still, noted more for its exceptions than of oc- 
cun'ing. In fact it seems very sti:ingt' that tlie sensou should 
have liecn so far :idv;iiicc(l. WC ni-c told rh;il tlit- iVuit ti'ees 
were in lilossom and that the gi-ass aud grain were high tMiongh 
to \v;i\(' in the wimi. •■'riic sun shiMii- witli pcculinr splciidof. 
The iiioniiiig wa.N :i glorious one" It, \v;is in'turcn nine ami 
ten o'cliick when the liist sraii<l was mmh' and Ainci'icans lii'cil 



34 

that first shot at their foe. Hitherto, as in the Boston Massa- 
cre and at Lexington, our men had fallen but there had been 
no determined resistance. But now they were to assume the 
ao-o;ressive. The first British fire had killed Isaac Davis and 
Abner Hosmer. The Briton had provoked the contest and now 
came Buttrick's short, incisive command, "Fire, fellow soldiers, 
for God's sake, fire." Fighting is always provocative of profan- 
ity, and men swear then who would not think of doing so at 
other times. Captain Brown, in much the same language as 
that which Washington is said to have used at Monmouth to- 
wards Gen. Lee, commanded his men to fire. British blood is 
shed, and Noah Parkhurst of Lincoln saj^s, "Now the war has 
begun and no one knows when it will end." Two of the invaders 
were slain and many were wounded. The enemj' had found that 
the Americans would fight and that henceforth it was not to be 
a one-sided afl!"air. At noon he was in full retreat with militia 
menacing him in rear and flank. The Americans were without 
system or command. They attacked as they could and did such 
services as was possible. There were fresh parties constantl}' 
coming up from the neighboring towns, and all were anxious to 
get a shot at the invading foe. 

But it is no part of ours to describe in detail the incidents of 
that gauntlet which the British ran in this retreat. They have 
been instilled into the minds of American youth almost from 
infancy. We were early told that the soldiers suffered so much 
from heat and fatigue that their tongues lolled from their mouths 
like over heated dogs. As they approached Lexington, another 
set of patriots met them with a warm reception but, alas, three 
more Americans fell martyrs to their principles. Nothing but 
the arrival of Lord Perc}' saved Col. Smith and his company 
from annihilation. The proud foe of the morning was effectually 
humbled, ready indeed to surrender his arms could any one have 
been found in command of the Americans to receive them. 
The bloody minded Pitcairn who, in the morn, would like to stir 
Yankee blood even as he stirred the brandy in his glass, was 
wounded and unhorsed and his steed was afterward sold at 
auction in Concord. The close of the eventful da}' saw the 
battered remnants of the enemy on Bunker's Hill and even there 



35 

safe from t-apture 011I3' b}' the exhaustion of the pursuers' am- 
munition. From thirt3--onc towns hat! the farmers gathered and 
well did they do for themselves and for liberty. It seems almost 
incredible that men so remote from the lield as Framingham 
should have participated in the battle, but like the war horse 
they nuist have smelled the fray from afar, and like him must 
have speeded to the contest. 

The day was done and though sorrow went into many house- 
holds in Middlesex and P^ssex Counties over those who were 
sleeping the last sleep, yet it was not. the sorrow of despair. 
The foe had been met and repulsed. The knowledge of the 
victory was rapidly winging its way throughout the other Colo- 
nies. Gallant Putnam was to catch the inspiration and to leave 
his plow in the furrow while he hurried eastward. This was 
"the clash of resounding arms" which tlie magnetic Henry had 
foretold in Virginia and truly the gale swept it southward. In 
one sense it was passing strange that this most determined re- 
sistance to English rule should have been made in the most 
thoroughly English part of the Colonies where, as Palfrey says, 
for a hundred and lifty years the orginal stock had sutfered little 
or no admixture ; but on the other hand the fact that they were 
so pure in their English ancestrj' made them the less likel}' to 
submit to unjust exactions from whatsoever quarter. The same 
blood that could force Magna Charta from Lackland and that 
scrupled not to behead an ill advised and tyrannical monarch 
was little likely to yield to what its best promptings pronounced 
hateful and unlawful. As Hudson says the Concord Fight as- 
sumed the proportions of a revolution which rolled on for seven 
years, till Piritish arrogance, in the person of Cornwallis, surren- 
dered at Yorktown. Another good day's work was done and 
April was truly assuming wonderful significance in the history 
of Massachusetts. On the first, her sons had won a bloodless 
victory over Andros and his servitors. On the second she had 
shown England that she could fight, if need there was to main- 
tain her rights. 

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood 

Their flag to April breeze unfurled, 
Here once the embattled farmers stood 

And fired the shot heard 'round the world." (Emerson.) 



36 

%fil 19, 1861. 

But now we approach da5*s nearer us and of which we were, to 
some extent, apart. Massachusetts no longer contended with a 
foreign foe. The Briton had long since ceased from his troubling, 
but other times and other men had aroused new interests, had 
precipitated new conflicts. The Declaration of Independence 
had proclaimed freedom for the white portion only of the peo- 
ple. The serpent of oppression had been scotched, not killed. 
Boston had seen her most respected citizens forced to turn slave 
catchers ; pretty business, trul}', for the sons of men who had 
fought at Concord. She had seen Garrison hurried to his death, 
(could the mob have found a convenient lamp post.) Through 
her streets had marched United States soldiers, escorting An- 
thony Burns to the vessel that was to take him back to slavery. 
Her "Cradle of Libert}^" had rocked again when Theodore Par- 
ker addressed the assembled multitude as "Fellow citizens of 
Virginia." Our own city of Worcester had seen much of excite- 
ment in these troublous times. The Slave catcher had been here 
too ; but public opinion, in this Commonwealth, was decidedly on 
the side of the fugitive and when Charles Sumner was sent to the 
United States Senate she put herself in the very van of progress. 
It took many deeds of violence to lead up to the tragedy of 
Baltimore. Massachusetts orators had been hissed and rotten 
egged, her statesmen in peril of their lives before the year 1801 
began. But ever on the alert, she found John A. Andrew in 
the gubernatorial chair in the first dawning of the strife and he, 
equal to the emergency, early had Massachusetts troops off for 
the seat of impending battle. While life lasts, will continue a 
vivid recollection of those feverish moments when maddened 
South Carolina fired its first gun at Sumter. Were there any 
lukewarm in the state up to that moment, they were immediate- 
ly converted into stalwart supporters of the most rigorous meas- 
ures. It was the proud distinction of this state to offer the first 
blood on the country's altar. As in 1775, it was the blood of 
her farmers that became the seed of the republic, so here again 
the hves of her sons were given that the nation might live. As 
we regard it, now, it all seems like a dream. Seward thought 



37 

the whole affair a mere em.eute which would cease in a few days. 
The proclamation called for only seventy-five thousand men. 
How little was comprehended the immensity of the task before 
us? On the very day of the fall of Sumter, Gen. Schouler, 
Adjutant General of the state, wrote to the War Department at 
Washington asking for arms and suggesting the proper garrison- 
ing of the Forts in Boston Harbor. On the loth, Henry AVilson 
telegraphed from Washington that twenty companies of her 
troops be sent to the Capitol at once and there be mustered 
into service. On the same day, the 3d, 4th, Gth, and 8th Reg- 
imets were ordered to muster at once on Boston Common. That 
night there was hurrying through the seaboard towns like that 
of Paul Revere in days of 1775. 

In token of the extreme haste with which the application was 
responded to, it is said that one of the Massachusetts soldiers, 
in tlie city of New York, being asked if there was any thing that 
could be done for him, hesitated a moment and then lifting his 
foot exhibited a boot much the worse for wear from which one 
of his toes even protruded. ''How came you here with such a 
boot as that my friend," said the patriotic citizen. "WHien the 
order came for me to join ray company, sir," replied the soldier, 
"I was ploughing in the same field at Concord where my grand- 
father was ploughing when the British fired on the Massachusetts 
men at Lexington. He did not wait a moment ; and I did not 
sir." It is needless to add that he was soon supplied with a 
new pair of boots. 

At nine o'clock the l()th, came a train tx) the Eastern Depot 
carrying soldiers who were greeted by immense throngs of peo- 
ple and over all the din of the debarking and press rang the 
notes of Yankee Doodle. Captain A. W. Bartlett of Newbury- 
port was said to be the fii-st man to reach Boston and report for 
dut}' with his men, something worthy of recollection, though it 
may as well be stated that just who was the first volunteer will 
remain a vexed question. The 17tli saw the men of the differ- 
ent regiments getting ready for departure. The Gth marched 
to the State House and was addressed by the Governor. He 
gave to the regiment a stand of colors. Col. Jones accepting 
said ''You have given to me this flag, which is the emblem of 



38 

all that stands before you. It represents m}- entire command ; 
and so help me God ! I will never disgrace it." Thence to the 
Boston and Albany Station, the troops were marched and the 
tirst detachment of Massachusetts soldiers was otf for the war. 
On this date the Brookline Transcript published the following 
lines : — 

"Soldiers go ! Your country calls ! 
See, from Siimter's blackened walls, 
Floats no more our nation's flag, 
But the traitor's odious rag. 

Long the Patient North hath borne 
All their treachery, taunts and scorn ; 
Now let Slavery's despots learn. 
How our Northern blood can burn. 
Swift their hours of triumphs past. 
For their first must be their last. 

By the memory of our sires, 
By the children 'round your fires. 
By your wive's and mother's love. 
By the God who reigns above — 
By all holy things — depart ! 
Strong in hand and brave in heart. 

Nobly strike for truth and right ; 
We will pray while you shall fight. 
Mothers, daughters, wives all true 
To our country and to you — 
To the breeze our banner show : 
Traitors meet you when you go. 
In the name of God on high, 
Win — or in the conflict die. 

In New York city their presence had much to do in settling 
the Union feeling of that vast aggregation of humanit}'. At 
morn Baltimore was reached. Tlie city noted for a great va- 
riety of things, — its founder, Lord Baltimore, — the writing of 
the "Star Spangled Banner" near the walls of Fort M'= Henry, — 
its battle monument and its Plug Uglies, especially the latter. 
It was the same Baltimore whose citizens had threatened as- 
sassination of President elect, Lincoln, and now was determined 



39 

to withstand the march of Massachusetts men through its streets. 
Col. Jones, in expectation of this trouble, had ordered his men 
to load their guns, but not to fire unless first molested. The 
first seven companies passed through unmolested ; but the re- 
maining four who were separated from the advance were sub- 
jected to all the insult and ill treatment that malice and hate 
could devise. Finalh-, the crowd thinking the soldiers dared not 
fight or that they had no ammunition fired into the ranks, and 
one soldier was killed. Then came the first order, "Fire," and 
the crowd fell back. The Mayor of the city placed himself be- 
side Capt. Follansbee of Company C, assuring him of his pro- 
tection and entreated him to not let his men fire but his own 
patience became exhausted and seizing a musket he, himself, 
shot one of the assailants dead. Four Massachusetts men fell 
in this encounter. Was there a fatality in this event occurring 
on this particular day or was it simply one of those amazing 
coincidences that make us believe that truth is really stranger 
than fiction? For the third time was the state linked with the 
day. Those men dying in the very dawn of the strife did more 
for the cause of the Union than tliey could possibly have done 
had they lived to participate in scores of battles. I have seen 
the picture of Luther C. Ladd one of the victims on this mem- 
orable occasion. He was clad in the somewhat peculiar costume 
of the Massachusetts Militia, and his face young and winsome, 
obviously taken in boyish pride, (for he was a lad in years as 
well as name,) at the garb he wore and the mission he was on. 
But he was to die, not in battle brave but by the hands of an 
irresponsible mob, frenzied with rage at what it deemed a dese- 
cration. But let us not wonder that a Southern city should thus 
object to the passage of Northern troops, for in our own adjoin- 
ing State of Connecticut, one Gallagher, since a noted politician 
there, had said, "If Massachusetts men try to pass this State on 
their way to fight our Southern brethren, kill 'em, damn 'em," 
and though this term became his sobriquet for years it seemed 
to lessen, in no degree, the esteem in which he was held by his 
fellow citizens of a certain class in New Haven. In fact the 
same sentiments, though in a less profane form, were advanced 
by the man who has just retired from the United States Senate 



40 

to make room for the gallant Hawley. If the train had been 
laid before, surely the deeds iu Baltimore effectually fired it. 
The New York Times closed an account of the fray by saying 
that the Mayor and Governor l)oth notified the President that 
no more ti-oops could pass through Baltimore unless they fought 
their way. Did they suppose such a notice as that would deter 
Massachusetts soldiers? Why, to fight was what the}- left their 
native soil for, and the}' would as soon encounter armed treason 
in Baltimore as elsewhere, Governor Andrew sent the following 
message to the Maj'or of Baltimore: "I pra^" 30U cause the 
bodies of our Massachusetts soldiers, dead in battle, to be im- 
mediately laid out, preserved in ice and tenderly sent forward b}' 
express to me. All expenses will be paid b}' this Common- 
wealth," Notice the character of the man as expressed in that 
word '"'■ tenderly." George W, Bunga}' made the sentiment the 
refrain for the following : — 

"In their own martial robes arrayed 
With cap and cloak and shining blade, 
In the still cottin softly laid, 

Oh ! send them tenderly. 
Our bleeding country's bleeding corps 
Of noble dead can sleep no more 
^V'here monuments at Baltimore 

Libel our Ijiberty. 

Oh touch them tenderly, I pray, 
And softly wipe the blood away 
From the red lips of woiinds, that say 

How sweet it is to die 
For one's dear country, at a time 
Coincidence crowns, with sublime 
Associations, deeds that chime 

In hiunan history ! 

Deal gently with the pale, cold dead 
For Massachusetts bows her head — 
But not with shame ; lier eyes are red 

With weeping for the slain. 
Like Kaclu'l. she i> sad indeed; 
-Vnd long lu'r hruke.n lii'ait v\ ill bleed 
F(ir children true in ^^l>^d and deed 

She cannot meet again. 



41 

Whisper no word of treason when 
Yo boar a\vuy our bravest men 
From the foul traitor's hateful den, 

Red with our brother's blood ; 
A spot that must forever be, 
Like Sodom simk beneath the sea, 
It sinks in coward treaehery 

Unwept beneath the flood. 

Lift up each gallant son of Mars, 
And shroiid him in the flag of stars. 
Beneath whose folds he won the scars 

Through which his spirit fled 
From glory here, to glory where 
The banner blue in field of air 
Is bright with stars forever there, 

Without the stripes of red." 

Oh ! onr hearts go out towards this man Andrew who so 
thoroughlj' appreciated the needs of the soldier. Though it was 
not his to bear a musket nor wield a sword, 3'et he was as com- 
pletely a part of the grand defence of the Nation as though he 
wore the uniform of tlie arm\' and he fell, at last, worn out by 
the terrible exactions of those trying days. At Fall River, on 
the reception of the news, a public meeting was called and ten 
thousand dollars voted to lit out volunteers. The city of Phila- 
delphia voted $1,000,000 to equip volunteers and to support 
their families during their absence. Norwich, Ct., subscribed 
$14,000 for the same purpose. There were very few Gallaghers 
and Eatons there. The public pulse had become feverish ; but 
it soon settled into a firm, steady heart beat which throbbed on 
till the last vestige of treason had disappeared. The New York 
Independent of April -23(1 said, "Massachusetts and Rhode Is- 
land have won the praise and the blessing of all men. The sons 
of Massachusetts lay dead in the streets of Baltimore on the 
anniversary day of the Battle of Lexington, before a single Reg- 
iment from New York had crossed the border between the slave 
and the free states. Soldiers from Massachusetts have made 
their way to Havre d' Grace, seized a steamboat, reached An- 
napolis, and taken a position liy which they could keep open a 
road to Washington, before a single troop of New York soldiers 



42 

had found a passage into the enemy's country'. Troops from 
Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been sent by sea and were 
thrown into Fortress Munroe, commanding Norfolk, while the 
authorities at Albany were debating upon the proper official 
steps to be taken in regard to the President's Proclamation. 
God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The Massa- 
chusetts Regiments : — 

"They were reared on the soil whence the Adamses sprung 

That to Hancock and Warren gave birth, 
Descendants of sires whose proud names have been sung 

In the noblest hosannas of earth. 

They were trained in our shops, they were trained in our schools, 
They have been taught on our free waves to sail ; 

They have learned of Progression the practice and rules, 
But they know not the meaning of Fail." (Transcript.) 

Mrs. Sigourney wrote : — 

"The Bay State bled at Lexington but every drop that ran, 

By transmutation strange and strong sprang up an armed man. 

Yet when the born of Lexington who keep their natal day 
Were writing four score years and six upon their annals gray, 

The Bay State bled at Baltimore wherefore I may not speak. 

For sad and tender memories rush from heart to moistened cheek." 

When visitors approach the State Flags in the rotunda of the 
Capitol in Boston, almost always the first question is '-where is 
the flag of the Sixth ?" It is not that the sixth Regiment saw 
so much service, for the affray in Baltimore was its onl}' encoun- 
ter ; but there is a strange interest in the first of every thing. 
Concord and Lexington were mere skirmishes, 3'et they excite 
emotions that even Saratoga cannot arouse. So here, standing 
before those war worn ensigns, the eye rests upon the standard 
of the Sixth and follows it from Boston to Baltimore and aijain 
lives over the scenes of that famous da}-. 

Though Massachusetts soil drank not the blood of her slaugh- 
tered sons, the}' fell for her and the principles to which she was 
ever faithful. The day is hers ; thrice bound to her by associ- 
ations most sacred, and looking down along tlie line of coming 
years is there to be another April da}' to make the fourth in this 
wonderful list? When, after the lapse of eighty-six vears we 



43 

come to r.)47 may wc oxpoct Massachusetts to again stand 
for the right ? Who can forecast the event and tell us what is 
to be the issue in those days to call u^wn sturdy manhood to 
assert itself? Will the demon of the Commune have made this 
country the place of its abode ? Will it be the Nihilists endeav- 
oring, by assassination, to overthrow established rule? Will 
io-norance and vice have so enthroned themselves that Macau- 
lay's prophecy concerning us will be verilied? "Either some 
Cifisar or Napoleon will seize the reins of government with a 
strong hand, or your republic will be as fearfully plundered and 
laid waste by barbarians in the twentieth century as the Roman 
Empire was in the fifth, with this ditference, that the Huns and 
Vandals who ravaged the Roman Empire came from without and 
that your Huns and Vandals will have been engendered within 
3-our country by your own institutions." 

But let us hope that Macaulay was a false prophet and that 
our dismemberment and his New Zealander musing on the ruins 
of London Bridge were the creatures of a somewhat jaundiced 
imagination and, moreover, let us hope that the list of coinci- 
dences is ended that, in the future, unnumbered April days may 
pass with no need of popular uprisings to withstand the hand of 
rapacity or oppression. Our tale is told. Of the past we are 
sure. For the future we are hopeful, and, with Longfellow, let 
us say 

"Sweet April ! Many a thought 

Is wedded unto thee, as hearts are wed ; 

Nor shall they fail, till, to its autumn brought 
Life's golden fount is shed." 




44 

Interesting remarks were made by Gen. Sj)rague, 
Messrs. Paine, Lovell, Staples, Comins and A. P. 
Marble. Mr. Paine presented the Society with some 
manuscript souvenirs of the Battle of Lexington. 



The next regular meeting was held on the eve- 
ning of Tuesday, May 3d, the President in the chair. 
Twenty-six members and visitors were present. 

Correspondence was read from the Librarian of 
Harvard College and the Rev. A. P. Marvin, of 
Lancaster. Messrs. Frank E. Lancaster, John G. 
Brady and Thomas Stansfield, of Worcester, and 
Manning Leonard Esq., of Southbridge, were elected 
active members. William T. ILirlow Esq. read some 
extracts from, and made some remarks upon the 
trial of John Home for libel, reported in Vol. XX. 
of English State Trials. He was better known as 
John Home Tooke, author of the Diversions of Pur- 
ley. His ofience consisted in raising a subscription 
for the benefit of the widows and orphans of those 
"murdered" by the king's troops at Lexington. 

The following was presented by the Secretary and 
adopted : — 

Voted, Tluit the Society will publish the Worcester Town 
Records from 1753 to 1 *S3, edited b}' Franklin P. Rice, in three 
parts or volumes, to be numbered in regular order with its puli- 
lications. 

The Hon. Clark Jillson read a paper on the Death 
Penalty in Worcester County, with special details 



45 

regarding tlie execution of Hugh Henderson alias 
John Hamilton for burglary, Nov. 24, 1737, and of 
Jabez Green for murder, Oct. 21, 1742. This paper 
comprised much valuable historical matter the fruit 
of patient and extended research.* Remarks upon 
the subject were made hy Messrs. Harlow, Comins 
and Lamb. Mr. C. R. Johnson made brief allusion 
to the archaeological researches now in progress in 
the central portion of this continent followed by a 
genei'al commentary on this topic. Mr. Thomas E. 
Bnrtiett, of Cambridge, made brief remarks concern- 
ing the progress and success of the Society and its 
reputation abroad. 



The June meeting was held on the evening of 
Tuesday the 7th. Forty members and visitors were 
present. In the absence of Mr. Shumway, Mr. Dan- 
iel Seagrave was chosen Secretary pro tern. Mr. 
Charles F. Rugg of Worcester was elected an active 
member. 

Appropriate action was taken upon the death of 
the Hon. Charles Hudson, an honorary member of 
this Society, and Mr. Henry M. Smith read the fol- 
lowing Memorial and Biographical Sketch, prepared 
by request for the occasion. 



* This paper forms part of a work now in progress by Judge Jillson, upon 
the Death Penalty in Worcester County. 



Charles Hudson. 



BY HENRY M. SMITH. 



SINCE our last meeting an esteemed lionorar}' member of this 
Societ}' has ended his long and useful career. Hon. Charles 
Hudson died at his residence in Lexington, Mass., on the 4th of 
May, in the eight^'-sixth j-ear of his age. There are very few 
human lives that like his resemble some rare dnj' in summer, 
when the sun from rising to setting shines through every hour 
on usefulness and occupation. All his relations to this Societ}' 
we have had frequent occasions to value. The more broadly'' 
useful and eminent portion of his life was associated with Worces- 
ter County. Throughout two generations he has had identitica- 
tion with important facts of the history and progress of his own 
state of Massachusetts and of this nation. M\' associates have 
therefore desired to bring into suitable form for our own records 
some of the features of his extended usefulness and have devol- 
ved upon me this task, on an occasion where I would prefer to 
sit a listener. 

Every human life of four score or more years, however hum- 
ble, if given in faithful record, registers the essential human 
facts of its epoch. Too much of permanent history has been 
written without the light that biography supplies. When, as in 
the present instance, a human mind well endowed and well train- 
ed and helped by opportunity, which even endowment and train- 
ing do not alwa^'s command, leaA'es its own impress and shaping 
on the events of over sixty j^ears, the story of such service is 
part of the history of that period. 



47 

ClitirU's Hudson was born at Marlborough, Mass., in 171)5. 
Of liis birth and ancestry he says in his address at the celebra- 
tion of tlie "iUOth anniversary of that town, in March, 1859: 

"My parents and p;ran(lparcnts have been residents among yoii. My ma- 
ternal ancestors extend back to the tirst settlement of this township. My 
paternal aneestor, John Hudson, with two of his sous, took the held with 
other stout hearted citizens to defend the colony against the combined attack 
of French and Indians. And in the struggle for Independence the same 
ancestor with eight hardy sons showed their devotion to Liberty by arming 
in its defence. My parents and three sisters found a resting place beneath 
vour soil, while I the sole member of the family remain. Here were the 
sports of my childhood. In your venerable meeting-house I was offered up 
to Him in whose service I have attempted to labor in this community. In 
your schools I received my tirst lessons of instruction, and in the same little 
seminaries, forty years ago, I attempted to impart the rudiments of science 
to your children." 

This strongly outlines the common characteristics of New 
England village life and training in that earlier day. In Mr. 
Hudson's instance, it was the case of a boy early taught by cir- 
cumstances and surroundings to be earnest and self reliant, and 
to struggle upward and outward. So well was this life duty 
accomplished that Marlborough holds him as one of her most 
honored sons, and when her territory was divided the new town 
was given his name, Hudson. 

His first work was as a farm helper, his first step forward was 
towards self sustaining sturdy industry. But books were his 
companions and helpers, and from farm work he passed into 
the charge of the village school. All the testimony of those 
who knew him in this period of his life declares that he was a 
great reader and student, with a strong retentive mental grasp, 
good in selections of models, and close in power of analysis. 
He taught with acceptability and far in advance of the common 
modes of those times, in several Massachusetts towns. A mer- 
chant of Worcester whose own head is now well silvered, showed 
me, a few days since, a little pile of carefully treasured ''Reimrds 
of Merit" given to himself in his boyhood in a district school in 
Leominster, signed by Charles Hudson in 1819. And this early 
pupil remembers his school master as a man of great earnest- 
ness and industry, a most rare, skillful and friendly guide to his 
scholars. From teacher to preacher transition was easy and 
natural. He was ordained in 1819 and first preached to a 



48 

small societ}' in Danvers. So well had he wrought in the mas- 
tery of topics, and such were his traits of research and construc- 
tion that when, a few years later, he removed to Westminster in 
the north part of tliis count}" to take charge of the U uiversalist 
Churcli in that town, a position he filled more or less associated 
with other duties and public services for twenty years following, 
he became a controversiahst who left his mark broadlj* on the 
doctrinal discussions of that period. His "Letters to Hosea 
Ballon" on Future Retribution, 1827; "Reply to Balfour's es- 
saj^s," 1829, are printed volumes that had much circulation and 
can never be omitted from the stud}- of any who desire to ac- 
quaint themselves 'with all active agencies in the denominational 
religious history of that remarkable epoch of New England 
thought. In the same vein were his "Sacred Memoirs" pub- 
lished in two volumes in 1835, and his "Doubts concerning the 
Battle of Bunker Hill," an ingenious rejoinder to "Skepticism," 
published during his more engrossing public labors in 1846. 

He believed in the power of the printing press, and frequently 
sought its help, both in the newspapers of the da^', largely those 
of Worcester, Fitchburg and Barre, and in books and pamphlets,- 
the latter an especial resort of public writers in that era. I find 
in Sabin's collections of Americana quite a list of Mr. Hudson's 
pamphlets that bore their part in the memorable controversy 
and clash of doctrine and dogma half a century ago. It was 
then and always a trait of Mr. Hudson's life, thorough heedful- 
ness of all current topics and issues. Whatever occupied or 
challenged public thought he carefully studied, first for himself, 
and then for the enlightenment of others. Thus he came into 
the early period of man's estate, well trained in mental industry, 
careful and painstaking in all he set his brain or his hands to do. 
His five acre homestead on Academy Hill in Westminster, with 
its solid walls and smooth fields was tlie model and example 
for all farmers and housekeepers j-ound about. He had from 
early associations and robust traits that shrank from no lalior 
needed for honorable results, a thorough love for the farmer's 
calling. Some of his early addresses to Farmers' and Agricul- 
tural Societies, on more or less formal occasions, are excellent 
wisdom that helped forward the era of more intelligent husbandrj' 



49 

in this state. He was laitliful and zealous in all the duties that 
caine to hiin from parisli or townspeople, and it came to pass 
that the more secular public behests outgrew the former. He 
had been an educator, and began by educating himself, but he 
never for that reason believed that it was safe to leave the bo3's 
and girls of the Bay State to be self-taught. Some of his best 
efforts in early manhood were put forth in behalf of our Massa- 
chusetts Public School system. If Massachusetts in her Board 
of Education became a natural example and in such connection 
wrote the name of Horace Mann among her most honored sons, 
it was largely because he had co-workers that represented the 
best thought of that period. The Massachusetts Board of Ed- 
ucation was established in 1837, and in its earliest foundation 
work Mr. Hudson was associated in membership with such men 
as Everett, Dwiglit, Putnam, Rantoul, Robbins and Sparks, all 
of whom honored his genial services. 

After his intelligent and wide relation to local topics and in- 
terests in central Massachusetts had suggested the pattern ot 
the man, he began in 1828 what continued until the close of his 
more active career his broader service of public interests. I can 
give the chronicle to-night scarcely more expansion tjian the 
crisp chronology of Drake's American Biography, Lanman's 
Dictionary of Congress and other similar registers of the men of 
their time. 

He was a mem.ber of the Massachusetts House of Hepresenta- 
tives from 1828 to 1833, and again for a shorter period near 
the close of his life was sent to represent his town of Lexington 
in the same body. He was a State Senator from 1833 to 1837 ; 
a member of the Governor's Council from 1839 to 1841 ; a Rep- 
resentative in Congress four successive terms, from 1841 to 
1849; one of the early members of the Massachusetts State 
Board of Education ; a member of the early Legislative Railroad 
Committees ; a State Director of the Boston and Albany, and 
years later State Commissioner of the Hoosick Tunnel, as an 
associate of the late Hon. Alvah Crocker. For eight years, at 
two different periods, he filled important Federal positions in 
Boston and vicinity. 



50 

But when this little chain of dates is measured upon the pub- 
lic records of the time how much of human progress and public 
vicissitude is seen to be included. As already stated it records 
a helpful part of our noble system of Public School education. 
It covers the entire railroad history of Massachusetts which 
laroelv enoaoed Mr. Hudson's attention and services in its 
formative era. He was an earnest advocate of development 
of transit facilities. At one time he fondly looked to see canal 
boats climb the levels of the Nashua, and pass down the lockage 
of Miller's river, on the projected water route from Boston to 
Albany. But he was among the first to welcome the new rail- 
road and its possibilites. He was among the earhest public 
writers, and a member of the first Legislative Committees to give 
direction and prepare the way for the railroad era. I am glad 
I had written thus far in this part of m}' theme before there 
came to me, as to yourselves, the testimony of Hon. Robert C. 
Winthrop, in his remarks before the Massachusetts Historical 
Society on Thursdaj' evening of the last week. On this very 
point Mr. Winthrop says : 

"My earliest association with Mr. Hudson was in the Legislature of ]\Ias- 
sachusetts rtiore than forty years ago, where he did more than any other 
member of either branch in the organization of our then infant railroad sys- 
tem. Our former associate, the late Nathan Hale, with whom Mr. Hudson 
actively co- operated could aloue, as it seems to me, be named as having 
rendered equal service." 

This is evidence that will not be questioned, fixing Mr. Hud- 
son's place in Massachusetts railroad annals. Most of m}- 
associates, certainly the elders among them, remember the 
familiar sign-board that so long held its place over our highways, 
in kindly warning of the unaccustomed perils of the public, 
written b}' Mr. Hudson, years before the invention of the steam 
whistle or the word Locomotive. '■''Railroad Crossing; look out 
for the Engine ivJdle the bell riiigs." 

But Mr. Hudson became most widely known and most broadly 
useful to his time in his relation to national affairs, during the 
eight vears of his congressional services. In 1841 he succeeded 
Hon. Levi Lincoln whose immediate predecessor was Hon. John 
Davis, as the representative of the oth Mass. District. i\Ioii of 



51 

our own day who have i)assefl through the era of Rebellion and 
Reconstruction, if they would have the full meaning of the 
mighty questions, whose solution has cost our time so much blood 
and treasure must study intelligently the immediateh' preceding 
epoch. Able writers have given us the history of the Anti- 
Slavery struggle, on pages written too near, in point of time, 
to the events themselves, to be free from coloring of pique 
and prejudice. The permanent historian will be sure to give 
the grand old Whig party as its standards were borne bj' Mas- 
sachusetts men in Congress, its share in that consolidation and 
sympathy of our Americanism which was needed to carr}- us as 
a people bej-ond the perils of foreign interference and civil com- 
motion, and make us strong enough to withstand and survive 
tlie death struggles of the infamous institution of human bond- 
age whose ultimate doom was indeed forecast when it was first 
wind-drifted a noxious weed over the walls of our Garden of 
Liberty. 

Charles Hudson will stand as a solid type of the Massachusetts 
Whig of his period, sturd}-, faithful and earnest in the first work 
that came to him, the protection of American Industry, and the 
first defences against slavery aggressions in the interests of slave 
labor. He came into congressional life, when, (inspired by sla- 
very co-operaling with British policy,) free trade had bequeathed 
to us in tlie language of that most competent writer, Henry C. 
Carey, 

"A commerce that gave an excess of specie, a people ruined, then o;overn- 
ments in a state of repudiation, a public treasury bankrupt and begging 
everywhere for loans at the highest rate of interest, a revenue collected and 
disbursed in irredeemable paper money, and a very large foreign debt." 

For years southern slavehoiding policy had dominated in the 
promotion of the cotton export and the free importation of all 
manufactured products of the forge, the loom, and the shop. 
The system of Compromises begun in 1833 had reduced well 
nigh to nothing all rates on dutiable imposts. Our national 
revenues had fallen to 12 millions. We need not write of these 
thino-s hotlv, but it would be un-American and not altogether 
of present unwisdom to forget that behind the imperious demand 
of the slave owners had stood for a quarter of a century the 



52 

boldly declared menace of more than one British premier that 
the people of the United States must and would bo "forced to 
give up their Tariff or their Union." 

It was at such a time as this that the new member from Wor- 
cester County entered Congress. He came full of his subject. 
He came from a manufacturing region of crushed manufactures. 
He had looked deep beneath the outer meaning of the familiar 
signs of the village stores of that period, '■'■English and West 
India Goods." He came to stand among sons of_,Massachusetts 
whose names will live in a shining galaxy as long as the Bay 
State endures ; Webster, Adams, Davis, Choate, Briggs, Lin- 
coln, Rantoul. It was not a company wherein a light and su- 
perficial man could make place or mark. But he was already 
trained in thought and its presentation. His first formal speech 
was delivered in his first term in Congress. His cherished col- 
league and life-long friend, George N. Briggs, of more experi- 
ence at the Capitol, kindly hinted to Mr. Hudson the possible 
peril of taking the fioor while so much a stranger to his sur- 
roundings, but he knew his own powers, and with modesty yet 
perfect self possession, delivered his speech on Discriminating 
Duties, Dec. 27th and 28th, 1841. It was strong, earnest, full 
of fact and statistics, in good temper, and yet direct and to tlie 
point, and stamped him as a doctrinaire of the first order. Mr. 
Adams in his Diary refers to it as *'an excellent speech." It 
was at once, and has alwa^'s been regarded as a most admirable 
exposition of an American doctrine, which our own recent presi- 
dential canvass has shown to be not 3'et extinct in value and 
meaning in our national atfairs. It had the merit of clear com- 
pact statement, and it was read more wideh' through the coun- 
try than any speech of its period. Of laborious habits, rugged 
physical strength and tliorouglily allcutivc to all the general and 
special calls ui)on a legishitoi'. ]\Ir. Hudson made in the course 
of his congressional life from twelve to fourteen speeches and 
several formal committee reports. He never engrossed time, or 
the floor unless he had something to say. His spee(;lies T have 
before me and they discuss the live topics of a vivid time. 

Discriminating Duties, (1841) The Annexation of Texns, 
(1845) The Tarilf, (1840) The Wheat Tra<]e of the Country, 



53 

(1840) Tlie Moxicun War, (1«4(;) The President's INIessnge on 
the War with Mexieo,(184(;) The Three MilUon Approi)riation 
Bill, (1.S47) The Cost of the Mexican War and the Finances of 
the Conntr}', (l.'-'4.s) The Constitutional power of Congress over 
the Territories and the Right of excluding Slaver}- therefrom, 
(184<S). In all of these speeches are the utterances of the 
broadl}' national, liberty loving, old fashioned Massachusetts 
Whig, hating Slavery, bold against its aggressions, and free 
spoken in warnings of its inseperable evils and perils. By his 
open and manly opposition to the JMexican war he was honored 
by the advocates of slavery extension, with classilication among 
the "-ignoble fourteen" who voted according to the dictates of 
their own consciences. While we honor dul}' the earlj^ aboli- 
tionists who carried their hot picket lines far beyond the possible 
issues of that day, and see a mission for the Garrisonite and the 
"Come-outer, " we must honor and permanent history will honor 
the earnest, honest Massachusetts Whig who fought the broader 
battle of the period ./^/.sr where he fovnd it, in the ordinance of 
17H7 and the Wilmot Proviso, and carried its victorious stand- 
ards forward to sterner lines of embattlement. The country 
was not ready in l.S4() for the work of 18(50. We must give due 
credit to those Avho shaped and held together in onward progress 
the main bodj" of our northern people, until God's own time for 
national deliverance from perils and shame. Of the Congress 
of 1841 of which Mr. Hudson was first a member, Charles Sum- 
ner an onlooker in Washington wrote to Ur. Francis Leiber in 
South Carolina declaring against its brutality and rufllanism. 
"One of its worst signs is subversion of the rules. No person- 
ality is too low." If there be a fear lest this be the over-nice 
criticism of an elegant man of letters, notyetbecome the states- 
man and martyr to this same Pro-slavery brutalism, let us take 
the testimony of one who occupied the reverse standpoint. In 
this same period Mr. Wise a member fi'om Virginia in the course 
of debate on the floor of the House uttered this plaintive note 
of rebuke : "The anti-duelling law is producing its fruits. It is 
making this House a Bear Garden. We see and hear one mem- 
ber branded as a cowai'd on this tlooi-. The other says back 
that he is a liar. And, sir, there the matter will stop, there 



54 

will be no fight." The representative Southern man of that 
time was imperious, willing to be thought personally dangerous 
to all opponents. Northern men of Mr. Hudson's cool, large 
and sturdy type who would talk freely and even sharply and yet 
be good natured, with whom a personal encounter was not to 
be thought of, and most likely to be avoided when considered, 
became at that time broadly useful in rallying Northern senti- 
ment, teaching the North its rights, opening its eyes to the bul- 
lying of the South, and battling to hold Slavery fast and firm 
within its limits until the appointed time when like a reptile in 
a rina of fire it should sting itself to death, in the blaze of battle. 
A scene which took place in the House on the 10th of Jan., 
1846, shows that Mr. Hudson was sufficiently prominent for 
virulent attack on the part of the Pro-Slavery administration 
organs and managers, and when he appealed to the House in 
the face of insult and ruffianly abuse standing cool and steady 
to his purpose, so much was his assailant shown to be in the 
wrong, that though connected with the Washington party news- 
paper he escaped expulsion as public printer by only a few votes. 
The incident is given in Mr. Adams' Diary. And this Congress 
justly represented a dominant national sentiment of the period. 
There was much remaining to be done in Norther^ states before 
they might struggle out from the dark penumbra of Slaver}'. 
Lovejoy was then scarcely a regretted martyr. Few of the 
black laws had been repealed from Northern statute books. 
The North needed the burning lessons of the Chained Court 
House in Boston, the mobbing of Judge Hoar in Charleston, 
the rendition of fugitives from her free communities, the story 
of Uncle Tom's Cabin and bleeding Kansas, before the heat of 
her hostility to slavery should rise high enough for the task that 
came in its own time and created the Free Soil and the Kepub- 
lican party. History might have written of a grappling like our 
late struggle, without this change in Northern sentiment first 
secured, a scene of confusion and peril unimaginable in its hor- 
rors and results to the world's civilization. In this middle 
o-round of preparation were borne the standards and won the 
victories of the old AVhig party. 



55 

When the nomination and election of Gen. Taylor brought 
disruption to the AVhig organization, Mr. Hudson's district of 
"Worcester County was too strongly Anti-Slaver}' to sustain 
the position he chose uianfull}' to occuj)y with reference to the 
canvass, fidelity to the nominees. In iiis farewell address to 
his constituents, written at Washington in February, 1849, he 
expresses the sentiments of his class of Massachusetts AVhigs : 

"I had no doubt that (Jon. Taylor would sign a bill sustaining the Wilniot 
Proviso, and that Gen. Cass would veto such a bill. Entertaining these 
views I never gave a more sincere Anti- Slavery vote in my life than the one 
I gave for Gen. Taylor." 

In Mr. Hudson's speech on the constitutional power of Con- 
gress over the territories and the right of excluding Slavery 
therefrom, delivered in the House June 20th, 1848, he was in- 
terrupted by an Ohio member, Mr. Lahm, who asked : "li^nter- 
taininp- these views on Slavery, will the gentleman from Massa- 
chusetts vote for Gen. Taylor? I give Mr. Hudson's reply : 

"I will answer the gentleman from Ohio. He knows, I presume, that 
there are two classes of men in this country devoted to the institution of 
slavery ; a class from the South, who living with the institution about them, 
and all their early associations being connected with it, have reconciled 
themselves to it, and see less evil in it than northern men are supposed to 
see ; some may evTU believe that under all the cucumstances of the case, it 
is no moral -vvron^— though all admit that it is a calamity. 

There is another class from the North, who are often known as dough- 
faces, who regard the institution precisely as I do ; but who, nevertheless, 
for the sake of the loaves and tishes, are willing to bow to the slave power — 
to the slave institution — to do anything and every thing for the purpose of 
promotion. Now, if I am called upon to select between men of these de- 
scriptions — if I am compelled to vote for either, I should vote for General 
Taylor in preference to Gen. Cass, just as I would vote for an honest man 
in preference to a hypocrite." 

Mr. Hudson was not an orator. His language was plain and 
strongly wrought and without passionate appeals. All classes 
of readers understood him, and congressional speeches were 
read in those times. Years after their delivery I found in the 
West many intelligent citizens who remembered and credited 
instruction to Mr. Hudson's tariff and anti-slavery utterances. 
He was in the House with Lincoln and Douglas, and more than 
once grappled in debate with the latter. With Abraham Lin- 
coln his friendship was warm and for a lifetime ; and slavery 
had no better haters than such representative Whigs as these. 



56 

They remained good Whigs wlien they became Republicans 
and were forecast Republicans while thej' were yet Whigs. 

Referring again to Mr. Winthrop's tribute to Mr. Hudson, 
that accomplished gentleman who was in Congress with bim, 
sa3'S of him what he had before said of him on a previous occa- 
sion before the same Society'. "lie was one of the ablest and 
honestest men Massachusetts ever had." 

Mr. Hudson's residence in Worcester County closed in 1849, 
thirty two years ago. A generation has passed away, and few 
of his cotemporaries remain , but our older residents many of 
them retain the impressions made upon their earlier manhood, 
by one who has been thus identified with important periods of 
our public affairs. His later public services may be briefly told. 
He refused a position in Gen. Taylor's cabinet as Secretary of 
the Interior, but for the four 3'ears of Fillmore's administration 
was Naval officer at the port of Boston. His second Federal 
office was that of Assessor of Internal Revenue, in President 
Lincoln's first term of office. 

I have left all too little space and time to speak of a most 
important part of Mr. Hudson's life-labors, which especially 
commend him to the grateful trilnites of societies like our own. 
Few in his own time have equalled him as a laborious and intel- 
ligent compiler of local histor}'. Mr. Winthrop long associated 
with him in the Massachusetts Historical Society of which he 
became a member in 1859, sa\'S of him : 

"As a local historian few of his cotemporaries have done more. His his- 
tory of Marlborough, his native place ; of ^V'estminstcr where he long re- 
sided ; and still more, of the far famed Lexington where he lived still later, 
and where he died, make up a most important and interesting contribution 
to the illustration of our Commonwealth." 

Mr. Hudson became a member of the American Antiquarian 
Society in this cit}', in 1841. His contributions to the Collect- 
ions of that and other Historical Societies including generallj- 
our own, in printed volumes, sketches, and papers in the peri- 
odicals of the day, or published among Society Transactions, are 
the sifted grain of history' made ready for its permanent garners. 
In the last report of the Council of the American Antiquarian 
Society, Oct. 1880, reference is made to a class of sketches which 




>9i«rjirz^ ^^ 



EESIDENCE'DF HON. CHAIM.ES lirHSOX, LEXINGTON, MASS. 



oi 



Avill worthily stand as Mr. Hudson's latest contribution to the 
liistory of his own time, his manuscript ''Memoirs of the three 
Massachusetts Governors from Worcester," Levi Lincoln, John 
Davis, and Emory Washburn. "A Memoir of of George N. 
Briggs." ''The American Trio, or the characters of Henry 
Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun." "The lives of 
Edward Everett and Marcus Morton, as Governors of the State 
Contrasted." (Mr. Hudson was a member of Gov. Morton's 
Council) "A sketch of Horace Mann." These with the Me- 
moirs of Abraham Lincoln and the letter to Andrew Johnson, 
constitute a remarkable gallery of pen portraits from one to 
whose intimate association with his subjects, was joined rare 
power in preserving and analyzing their traits. 

Though 1 have already too greatly taxed your patient hear- 
ing, I should not be faithful to the generous public spirit that 
kept the latest years of his life employed, did I fail to indicate 
though briefly the connection he maintained with the affairs of his 
historic town, Lexington. He personally organized and man- 
aged the great Lexington Centennial. His pen has helped 
make clear the story of Lexington light ; and his labors in this 
direction are praised l)()th in this country and in England. He 
made possible for Lexington her Town and Memorial Hall. The 
noble town library, adorned with its superb statues of Hancock 
and Adams, the Minute Man and the Boy in Blue ; and the last 
week of his life found him busy in labeling and arranging the 
Cabinet of minerals he had been long collecting for the Lexing- 
ton Town Library and Museum. Says Rev. Mr. Westcott, his 
pastor, in his remarks at the funeral of Mr. Hudson : "The in- 
scription on Sir Christopher Wren's monument might well be 
placed above the mortal form of our friend as it rests in the soil of 
the town he loved so well and labored so earnestly to improve.." 

"If you would see his monument look around you." 

INIr. Hudson was twice married, his wives sisters, daughters 
of John Rider of Shrewsbury. A widow, a son and daughter 
survive him. In the late war of the Rebellion his second son, 
Lieut. Col. John W. Hudson, represented the fourth succeeding 
■generation of the name to bear arms for his country. 



58 



No words from Mv. Hudson are iiioi'e tlivilliiig :iii(l drcplv 
characteristic than those in which as their rresidcnt he adihvss- 
ed his vencral)le associates, the \'eterans of the war oi' 1.S12. on 
the dishanchnent of their organization in l.sTD. 

'■We have reason to rejoice that our lives have been prolonged to witness 
the extension and t^rowth of our eountry, and the adaptation t)l' our institu- 
tions both to peace and to war ; and above all that we have lived to see the 
foul stain of human servitiule blotted (Uit from our escutcheon." 

Words worthy to stnnd lor his ow n lin.-il l.-n-cwcll. 








59 

The reading of the above M'us tbllowed by remarks 
by Hon. P. Emory Aldrich and others, eulogistic of 
Mr. Hudson. The President, Mr. E. B. Crane read 
a portion of his paper upon Shays' Rebellion ; the 
remainder, owing to the lateness of the hour, being 
postponed to the next meeting. Mr. Staples read a 
poem by St. John Honeywood, entitled "x\ Radical 
Song of 1786," illustrative of the spirit of the times. 
Mr. William S. Barton spoke brieliy of the Dorr Re- 
bellion in Rhode Island. On motion of Mr. Henry 
M. Smith, a committee of four was appointed, con- 
sisting of Messrs. Smith, Lovell, C. R. Johnson and 
Clark Jillson, to act with tlie President in perfecting 
arrana;ement-5 for the annual excursion of the So- 
cietv. The meetin<j; was then adiourned. 



At the July meeting held on the evening of Tues- 
day the 5th, the following gentlemen were present : 
President Crane, Clark Jillson, F. P. Rice, Lee, 
Tucker, Lawrence, Wm. A. Smith, Tolman, Hub- 
bard, Brady, Dickinson, J. A. Smith, F. C. Jillson, 
Howe, Cook, Knight, Staples, Lovell and the Rev. 
George Allen — 19. Mr. Staples was chosen Secre- 
tary pro tem. Mr. Frank E. Blake of Boston was 
elected an active member of the Society. On mo- 
tion of the Hon. Clark Jillson it was voted, 

"'That five persons be appointed by the chair, who, together 
with the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer, 
shall constitute a committee to take into consideration some 
method of improving the financial condition of the Society and 



60 

establishing a permanent fund, and that the}^ have power to act 
in such manner as their best judgment dictates." 

In accordance with this vote the following gentle- 
men were appointed : Clark Jillson, Nathaniel Paine, 
George Sumner, Augustus B. R. Sprague and Wm. 
A. Smith. 

On motion of Mr. Staples, a committee of three was 
appointed to prepare for publication the Proceedings 
of the Society for the current year, and contract for 
the printing of the same. Messrs. Staples, Clark 
Jillson, Franklin P. Rice, and Henry M. Smith (who 
was afterwards added by vote) constitute this com- 
mittee.* 

Mr. Crane presented the concluding portion of his 
account of Shays' Rebellion. The entire paper is 
here printed. The writer, while differing from ma- 
ny others in his estimate of this affair, has well forti- 
fied his position with facts. The popular knowledge 
concerning this outbreak of the people, is very mea- 
gre, as little in the form of consecutive narrative has 
been written about it.f A review from a stand point 
hitherto unrepresented will be considered with in- 
terest. 

* Subsequently, at a meeting of the Committee, Franklin P. Rice was 
appointed to edit the Proceedings for the current year. 

t George Richards Minot's "History" is the only account in print that 
merits the name. The first edition was published in 178S, [Worcester: 
printed by Isaiah Thomas] the second in 1810. 



€=:« 



SHAYS' REBELLION 



BY ELLERY B. CRANE. 




F any person will take the trouble to run his 
eye along that portion of the historj' of our 
countr}' which portra^-s events of a century ago, 
and is not too superficial in his research, he 
may find that there then lived a man b}^ the 
name of Daniel Shays ; that our country was 
struggling under the weight of a very heavy 
foreign and domestic debt ; that it was found 
to be impossible to provide means to meet the arrears of pay 
due the soldiers of the Revolution ; that Congress through the au- 
thority vested in it liy the articles of confederation recommended 
that the individual states attempt to raise their respective pro- 
portion of the debt li}' direct taxation ; that this effort produced 
great excitement in many of the states; and finally in 1787 a 
portion of the people of Massachusetts openly- rebelled ; that 
Daniel Shays marched at the head of one thousand men and 
took possession of Worcester and prevented a sitting of the Su- 
preme Court, and that he repeated the same at Springfield ; 
that at last Gov. Bowdoin was compelled to call out several 
thousand militia under Gen. Lincoln to suppress the revolt; 
that after capturing two hundred and fifty of the insurgents their 
power was broken ; and that this episode was known as Shays' 
Rebellion. The whole matter is disposed of in thirt}' or forty 
lines. From this meagre account given in our standard histori- 
cal works the student of histor}' can illy form a correct idea of 
the magnitude of this revolt as it is called, which no more de- 
seA'es to be denominated Shays' Rebellion than our late war 
Lee's Rebellion. It might have been called Allen's Rebellion 
had Col. Ethan Allen, the Green Mountain hero, seen fit to have 
accepted the honor of commanding the army of the insurgents 
when it was proffered him by Shays, Parsons and Wheeler. 



62 



It is to be regretted that no narrative of tliis popular uprising 
against government has been furnished us b}' one who took sides 
against the Commonwealth, or whose sympathies leaned in that 
direction. So far as I have been able to learn the account giv- 
en by George Richards Minot, a. m., is the only one to be found 
either in print or in manuscript ; and he was an aristocrat, a na- 
tive of Boston, and Clerk of the House of Representatives from 
1782 to 1791, and obviously in deep sympathy with the aristo- 
cratic side, which was the side of government. It is but a 
repetition in history of similar movements where the dominant 
party furnishes and and perpetuates their version of the action 
and b}' the rule of might crushes out and destroys ever}' vestige 
of the stor}' told b}' their humiliated and sulf'ering subjects. 

The long controversy' and fearful struggle for our National 
existence, had been brought to a close. A remarkable victory 
had been achieved b}- that stalwart band of patriots who had 
stood shoulder to shoulder through this severe contest, never 
wavering, but each and every man firm in the determination to 
rid the country of every vestige of british oppression or die in 
the attempt. The object which aroused and drew forth this 
noble spirit of patriotism and self sacrifice had been attained. 
England had been forced to acknowledge the independence of 
the United States, and her name had been stamped upon the 
roll with the other self-reliant nations of the world. The army 
had been disbanded and the men left to return to their several 
homes without having received their quotn of nioney for their 
service for man}- months. In fact the pultlic treasury- was en- 
tirely empty and the resourses of the whole country were well 
nigh exhausted. The war had left a debt including the promi- 
ses of the continental money of 270 millions of dollars, a con- 
siderable portion of which was owing by the individual states 
independent of the obligations of the general government. Bills 
of credit known as Continental money was first issued in 177;'), 
and continued to be emitted to about 17S(), when 100 millions 
of dollars were in cii'culation and 40 paper dollars were worth 
but one in specie ; and within a j'ear from that time it was en- 
tirely worthless. Previous to the war the private state debt of 
Massachusetts was less than £100.000, now it was £l,oOO,000, 



63 

l»osi(los €2')(),0()() (luc her line urtlic :iviny, ;ni<l Ikt ['ortioii of 
the i'cilcral debt was conipntcd not less than uiu' and one hall" 
niilHon pounds. In addition to tliis q\qv\ town was euibavrass- 
(!(! by advances made <>n its own aceoiuit to supply their lull 
quota of men, and supplies to support the army. 

It now remained for the people to perfect the union o|' Iho 
states and the articles of coidV'deration that were to unite this 
new l!e|)ulilic. I'^or many years a lai'U'e share of the lioiie and 
■^iiifu. tliH [H'odiH-l i\ (■ clciiii'iil of l!ic l;iiid. w a> fii::^;iu(r|iii Ji^lil- 
iiiii' llie battles for ficedoni. while the tinanrinl i-ondition of tlie 
country was fast growing from bad to worse, and these men in 
till' employ of government with families at home dependent upon 
their earnings for support were unable to render them the least 
assistance, and througlujut Ihe country considerable destitution 
and even sulfering prevailed. It was found necessary- to choose 
committees at town meetings to look after the families of soldiers 
in the lield, and to supply them with the necessaries of life. 
The repeated failures of government to meet its promises to pay, 
caused much dissatisfaction in the army, and the condition of 
the time may be illustrated by a brief notice of the action of a 
body of Pennsylvam'a troops who in .laiiuary, 17.S1, after asking 
in vain for aid forcibly left camp at Morristown, N. J., with 
the determination of marching to Philadelphia there to appeal 
personally to the national legislature for justice ; and when their 
action was oi)posed by theii- popular commander, (ien. Wayne, 
who by persuasion and threats sought to turn them back, they 
exhibited their tattered garments and emaciated forms, and 
warned him not t(j lire on them, for as much as they loved and 
respected him. should he do so, they would instantly take his 
life. They were determined to go to Philadelphia and de- 
mand IVom Congress redivss for theii' grievances. This exam- 
ple set In' the Pensylvania troops w'as followed soon after by 
some of those from New Jersey, and the feeling of discontent 
l)ecame alarming, (ien. Washington sent Gen. Robert Howe 
with live hundred men to restore order among the troops, and 
after hanging two of the i)oor unfortunates, perhaps among the 
most conspicuous, the remaindei- (jnietly sulnnitted to the situa- 
tion. 



64 

These men were uot traitors : they were compelled by sheer 
destitution to demand that which was rightfully their due. 
Congress saw the necessity and acted promptly, doing all in its 
power to relieve the army from its half-starved and half-naked 
condition. A committee was appointed to investigate and re- 
port on the condition of the army. They reported "That the 
army had not been paid for five months ; that its soldiers had 
but six days provisions in advance and on several occasions had 
been several successive da3's without meat ; that the medical 
department had neither sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate, wine or 
spirituous liquors of any kind ; and that every department of 
the arm}' was without money and had not even a shadow of 
credit left." Congress asked the several states each to supply 
annuall}' by direct taxation their proportion of the debt, but 
every state was groaning under its own obligations and Con- 
gress was too weak to enforce its demands, although the effort 
created great excitement in several states. Through this per- 
haps unavoidable failure of government to make good her re- 
peated promises, men women and children throughout the coun- 
try had been made to suffer, a fact that had been forgotten, and 
now that party which had broken faith with them was demand- 
ing through its agents, in many cases their last dollar to support, 
as the common people argued, a reckless and extravagant gov- 
ernment whose rulers and associates were clothed in purple and 
fine linen, faring sumptuoush- every day, while the}- were jjut to 
their wits ends to provide for themselves and their families suffi- 
cient food and clothing and aAoid the common fate of the poor 
debtor, incarceration in the county jail. 

Thus were matters discussed at home around the quiet open 
fire-place, on the street corner, by the road side and at the tav- 
ern over the social mug of flip. Men waxed earnest and carried 
the discussion into the town meeting ; resolutions were passed 
instructing their representatives to the general court to use their 
influence for such modifications of the laws of the Commonwealth 
as to relieve the people if possible from their unhappy condition. 
The argument continued, interest in the subject increased, con- 
ventions were called where towns and counties were represented 
by delegates, and where the numerous grievances were thor- 
oughly ventilated and numerous suggestions advanced for their 



65 

remedy ; memorials were framed and addressed to the General 
Com-t praying for certain enactments that might bring relief. 

The common peo[)le or laboring classes were indeed sorely 
pressed to meet their private obligations while levy after levy 
of public taxes were being laid upon them by the legislature. 
This condition bronglit a rapid increase of civil actions, giving 
the legal fraternity a grand opportunity of reaping a harvest ; 
and so well did they perform their services, and so vastly were 
their numbers increased that they became an eye-sore to the 
pubhc. The lawyer was charged with having brought about a 
large share of the burdens which the people were laboring under. 
It was publicly demanded that this profession should be abol- 
ished ; that its members certainly should not be allowed to hold 
public ottice, and in many cases the representatives chosen for 
the vear 1786 were instructed by their constituents to anihilate 
them. It was hard indeed to see honest and industrious men, 
valuable helpers in society, dragged off to prison or their lands 
seized and sold to satisfy a debt or for the payment of overbur- 
densome taxes. The people were driven to desperation by such 
occurrences, and their attacks were first made on the lawyers who 
brought suits, then on the courts who passed sentence ; and is it 
to be wondered at that they desired to stay proceedings in the 
lower courts until such time as the legislature, through their 
representatives, might relieve them by new enactments? This 
was the feeling of a certain element among the insurrectionists, 
but there were other factions at work in and out of these con- 
ventions. There were those who entertained an honest differ- 
ence of opinion regarding the construction of the constitution, 
or articles of confederation. Some considered them sadly de- 
fective and were striving for their revision. The fiat money man 
was there claiming that an increase of paper dollars would re- 
lieve all trouble. The toiy was also at work adding fuel to the 
flame hoping that the fire might consume the machinery of the 
new government and that the people would be compelled to re- 
turn to the protection of Great Britain. 

According to the mode of taxation of those days one third 
part of the whole was to be paid by the ratable polls alone, which 
numbered at that time a little more than 90,000. In 1784, the 



66 

legislature voted a tax of £140,000, for the purpose of re- 
ducing the arm}" debt that amount. Two years later they 
assessed £100,000 more for a similar purpose. The inequality 
of taxation and valuation of property to be assessed gave rise 
to considerable dissatisfaction in many parts of the Common- 
wealth. Public taxes took precedence over private debts when 
the scarcity of specie was offered as an excuse for not paying 
both, and as a relief the Tender Act was passed July 3, 17«2, 
enabling individuals to pay private contracts on other property, 
the value of which was to be fixed by impartial men under oath. 
This act opened the wa}' for hostilities between debtor and 
creditor and undoubtedly had its influence in the general move- 
ment. (/ 

Early in the year 1784, the towns of Wrentham and Medway 
invited their sister towns in Sutlolk county to meet in con- 
vention for the purpose of consulting together to the end that 
some measures might be adopted to relieve the people from their 
many grievances. About the same time the town of Sutton is- 
sued a circular letter calling a convention for Worcester county. 
Although the meeting was convened, it adjourned without 
adopting an}' strenuous measures. On Tuesday- the 22d day 
of August, 1784, a convention was held at Hatfield, Hampshire 
county, at which fift\' towns in that county were represented b}' 
delegates. Benjamin Bonney was chosen presiding officer. 
They were in session three days and drew up the following list 
of grievances, which they termed some of the sources of that 
discontent so evident throughout the Commonwealtli : 1 st, the 
existence of the Senate ; 2d, the present mode of representation ; 
3d, the officers of Government not being annually dependent on 
the representatives of the people, in General Court assembled, 
for their salaries ; 4th, all the civil officers of Government not 
being annually elected b\' the representatives of the people, in 
General Court assembled ; 5th, the existence of the courts of 
Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace ; 6th, the fee 
table as it now stands ; 7th, the present mode of appropriating 
the import and excise ; 8th, the unreasonable grants made to 
some of the officers of Government ; 9th, the supplimentary aid ; 
10th, the present mode of paying the governmental securities; 



07 

nth, the present mode ado[)tcd for the payment and speedy 
collection of the last tax ; 12th, the present mode of taxation as 
it operates unequally between the polls and estates, and between 
landed and mercantile interests ; 13tl), the present method of 
practice of the attornies at law; 14th, the want of sufficient 
medium of trade to remedy the mischiefs arising from the scar- 
city of money ; loth, the General Court sitting in the town of 
Boston ; Kith, the present embarrassments on the Press ; 17th, 
the neglect of the settlement of important matters depending 
between the Commonwealth and Congress relating to monies 
and averages ; 18th, voted this convention recommend to the 
several towns in this county, that they instruct their representa- 
tives to use their influence in the next General Court, to have 
emitted a bank of paper money subject to a depreciation, mak- 
ing it a tender in all payments, equal to silver and gold, to be 
issued in order to call in the commonwealth's securities; 19th, 
voted that whereas several of the above articles of grievances 
arise from defects in the constitution, therefore a revision of the 
same ought to take place ; 20th, voted that it be recommended 
by this convention to the several towns in this county, that they 
petition the Governor to call the General Couit immediately 
together, in order that the other grievances complained of may 
by the legislature be redressed ; 21st, voted that this convention 
recommend it to the inhabitants of this county, that they abstain 
from all mobs and unlawful assemblies, until a constitutional 
method of redress can be obtained ; 22d, voted that Mr. Caleb 
West be desired to transmit a copy of the proceedings of this 
convention to the convention of the county of Worcester ; 23d, 
voted that the chairman of this convention be desired to trans- 
mit a copy of the proceedings of this convention to the county 
of Berkshire ; 24th, voted that the chairman of this convention 
be directed to notify a county convention, upon any motion 
made to him for that purpose, if he judge the reasons sufficient, 
giying such notice together with the reasons therefor in the pub- 
lic papers of this county ; 25th, voted that a copy of the pro- 
ceedings of this convention be sent to the press in Springfield 
for publication. 



68 

These twentj'-five articles were the deliberate expression of 
delegates representing lift}' towns in Hampshire county, which 
was then the largest county in area in the Commonwealth.* 
Through the medium of town meetings and conventions the 
people throughout the state, particularly the western and mid- 
dle portion, had become thoroughly aroused upon the subject of 
their grievances and the best manner of redressing them. It was 
made the issue at the ballot box, and representatives were sent 
to the General Court to work out these much needed reforms. 
A bill was introduced in the legislature authorizing the issue of 
an adequate amount of paper money ; and to avoid the difficult}' 
of redeeming it. the bill provided for its depreciation at fixed 
rates in cei'tain giA'eu periods, until at a suitable time the whole 
should be extinguished. But this was too wild a scheme to 
succeed, and failed to receive the requisite support to become 
a law. 

The resolution passed by Congress Oct. 21, 1780, allowing 
officers in the arm}' half pa}' for life had, on account of the lack 
of funds, proved ineffective, and on the 22nd da}' of March, 
1782, a resolution was passed commuting it to five years' full 
pay. This last act of Congress gave rise to a general expression 
of dissatisfaction among the officers and people not only in 
Massachusetts but in all the states. It seemed to olfcr a pre- 
cedent for partial if not complete repudiation. If Congress 
could by a single vote cancel an obligation to pay a debt simply 
for the reason that they had not the ready money with which to 
satisfy that obligation, wliy could not the poor people of the 
country be relieved from the payment of their private debts for 
a like reason, especially those persons who were to be defrauded 
by the late action of Congress ? 

In the month of April, 1782, the feeling of unrest and dissatis- 
faction was apparent in many portions of the state and one 
Samuel Ely was indicted at Northampton for attempting to pre- 
vent the sitting of the court of common pleas at that place. 



* Franklin and Hampden counties were set off from it by ;ict of the Leg- 
islature of 1811-12. 



69 

He pleaded guilty nnd was confmed in jail, but while the 
guard, who were composed of inhabitants from Springfield, were 
off duty, Mr. Ely's fi lends gave him his liberty, for which offence 
the leaders of the liberating party were contined in the same 
prison, and an elfort was made to release them also. At this 
the militia of the county, numbering about 1500 men, were 
called out to protect the jail. But there was no serious trouble, 
and in the month of November following the General Court 
passed a law granting the rioters complete pardon. 

The fire continued to smolder within the breasts of the peo- 
ple ready to burst out at any moment into a fearful conflagra- 
tion that might destroy the life of the young Republic ; and the 
political war-cloud that was soon to test the strength of this 
Commonwealth was gathering in its fierceness from day to day, 
while its black lines were distinctly visible from Boston rolling 
up its dark folds along the western horizon in a most threaten- 
ing attitude. For more than four years the people had been 
looking to the Legislature for relief, but had been disappointed. 
Little progress had been made ; there seemed to be too much 
delay. The people could wait no longer. The enthusiastic 
convention held at Hartford had given the people new inspira- 
tion and confidence, and some of them determined to take the 
reins in their own hands hoping to accelerate matters ; but in 
this they were not wholly united. While it seemed evident that 
a large majority of the people in the state west of the county of 
Middlesex were in favor of the desired reformation, and in full 
sympathy with the general movement, a considerable portion of 
them did not deem it wise to resort to violence to accomplish 
their purpose, and were not willing to join with their more zeal- 
ous and enthusiastic brothers in taking up arras against the 
o-overnment. and were determined to remain neutral in the fight ; 
but when the repeated calls on the militia, of which they were 
a part, were made to disperse the insurgents as they collected 
to prevent the sittings of the inferior courts, that arm of the gov- 
ernment to which they looked for strength was found to be 
paralyzed, and the officers of the courts were powerless and 
helpless in the hands of the regulators, as they styled themselves. 
Hostilities were carried no further than the preventing of the 



70 

courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace from 
performing legal business. The destruction of life or propertj- 
was not contemplated b}' the Regulators any more than it was bj' 
the friends of Beiyamin F. Butler when they took possession of 
Mechanics' Hall at a session of the Democratic convention in 
this cit}- a few years since. They came out to exhibit their 
strength in numbers and took possession of the Court Houses 
to show their determination that the}- meant to have reformation, 
not only in the laws of the Commonwealth but in the manner of 
their execution. It was the spontaneous uprising of an over- 
taxed and overburdened people. But the welfare of public 
peace is always more or less placed in jeopard}- where large or 
even small bodies of men are assembled together entertaining 
fixed opinions, and especially where they display a willingness 
to re-enforce their opinions b}- phj-sical strength ; and a portion 
of this impoverished people resolved, perhaps unwisel}', to trj- 
their success or defeat in that wa}-. Kowhere during the cam- 
paign was there an assault made by them the object of which 
was the destruction of life or property-, therefore the magnitude 
of this political movement cannot be measured by the loss of life 
or the destruction of propert}' : that was studioush' avoided by 
the Regulators and onh' done near the close of the contest by 
some of the most exasperated and reckless members of the partj-. 
Worcester county had witnessed her share of conventions. 
The town of Sutton had per liaps taken the lead in extending 
the invitations. The first meeting was held in March, 17-S4, 
Mr. Ebenezer Davis being chosen presiding officer. For two 
years the regulators had been gaining strength, and there seem- 
ed to be little disposition on the part of Gov. John Hancock to 
push matters to a crisis. But on the election of James Bowdoin 
as Governor in 17-S5, the situation on the part of government 
began to assume a ditl'erent aspect. In May, 1786, the town of 
Sutton again issued a call for a convention at Leicester, at which 
Mr. Willis Hall of Sutton was chosen prssident. Without 
adopting any definite plans for the future the convention adjourn- 
ed to meet at the same place, August 15th, following, at which 
time 37 towns in Worcester county were represented b^- dele- 
gates. A committee was chosen to correspond with other 



71 

count}' organizations and to i)rcparo on address for the people, 
and adjourned to Worcester where nuu)erous delegates from 
other counties, also many persons who were prominent and ac- 
tive in the movement from ditferent of the state had assembled. 
As a result of this conference, a petition to the General Court 
was prepared reiterating their many grievances, which were in 
substance similar to the list already quoted, and intimated their 
intention, unless the authorities granted the prayer of their 
petition, of calling a state convention. At the same time the 
people were counseled to abstain from taking up arms to stop 
tlie courts, means which had alread}' been employed in other 
counties. To the credit of Worcester county it can be said that 
her people were not in favor of appealing to arms for a settle- 
ment of their troubles at this time. The experience of the past 
ten years had taught them to dread war, and particularly to 
stand in fear of civil war : they preferred rather to rely on, and 
appeal to the good sense of the people, believing that in its own 
good time the right would prevail and the proper legislation 
would be obtained. The result shows the}' were wise in that 
conclusion, for the moment an armed force was arrayed against 
government, notwithstanding the administration had been dis- 
tasteful and unsatisfactory, it drew their sympath}', and the 
party in opposition to government lost strength materially in 
numbers — onU' the most desperate and reckless were left to 
carry on the warfare. 

The town of Northampton, Hampshire county, had already 
been the scene of conflict between the citizens and the officers 
of the courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions. But 
Thursday the 2i)th day of August, 1786, the Regulators were 
again determined that no business should for the present be 
transacted b}- that vexatious arm of the law. About 1500 men 
assembled with such arms as they could command, and took 
possession of the court house and effectually prevented the sit- 
ting of the official body. This bold step called forth a procla- 
mation from his excellency, Gov. Bowdoin, in which he appealed 
to the officers and citizens of the state to suppress such treason- 
able demonstrations. The Insurgents paid but little attention 
to the call of the Governor, while the citizens of the counties of 



72 

Hampshire, Berkshire, Worcester, Middlesex aud Bristol were 
in a state of intense excitement. A general outbreak seemed 
inevitable. The campaign was opened in good earnest ; one 
scene of excitement after another followed in quick succession, 
the first point being Worcester. Monday night, Sept. 4th, an 
armed body of men under command of Capt. Adam Wheeler of 
Hubbardston, took possession of the court house, and on Tues- 
day morning a considerable re-inforcement joined the guard, 
while numerous S3'mpathisers and curiosity seekers gathered 
about the premises evidentl}' enjoying the spectacle. On the 
arrival of the hour for convening the court, the Justices and 
court attendants were seen making their way to the court house, 
and on reaching the door and finding it guarded by armed 
men who opposed their entrance. Chief Justice Arternas Ward 
demanded why this armed force was present and who was in 
command. Capt. Wheeler replied they had come to relieve the 
country from distress by preventing the sessions of the courts 
until the people could obtain relief from their greivances by leg- 
islation. The Judge reproved the rioters, as he termed them, 
for the rashness of their conduct and then retired with his asso- 
ciates to the United States Arms Tavern, where the court was 
formally opened and immediately adjourned to the next da}-. 
Although the community had been forewarned of the intention 
of the Regulators, and orders had been issued calling out the 
local militia, the officers reported that it was not in their power 
to muster their companies, showing conclusively- that that aim 
of the government was in sympathy with the action of the peo- 
ple. Thus the courts were shorn of their strength, and the 
judges accepting the only alternative adjourned them to Tues- 
day, Nov. 21st. 

For two days Worcester had been the seat of intense excite- 
ment. At the first appearance of Capt. Wheeler in the town, 
his command numbered less than one hundred men, V)ut during 
Tuesday many recruits joined his company until it numbered 
four hundred strong, and the greater part well armed. They 
must have created no little amount of enthusiasm in this quiet, 
rural town, as they marched up and down Main street to the 
stirring sound of fife and drum, each man plumed with a sprig 



73 

of evergreen, the emblem of distress. This was the first in- 
stance in Worcester where a tribunal established for the admin- 
istration of justice had been interfered with by armed men. 
Can you not in imagination look back and see the hard handed 
son of toil, the sturdy yeoman, the legal representative and the 
aristocrat standing together at the street corner in heated dis- 
cussion concerning the vital political issues of the day ? Can 
you wonder that people were for the moment excited ? By 
Wednesday the Regulators had accomplished their work for this 
time and quietly dispersed to their homes. 

The Court of Common Pleas for Worcester county, consisted 
at this time of Major Gen. Artemas Ward of Shrewsbury, Chief 
Justice, Joseph Dorr of Ward, Moses Gill of Princeton, and 
Samuel Baker of Berlin, associates. The Court of General Ses- 
sions of the Peace for the county, was composed of all the Jus- 
tices in the county, i)reside(l over by one or more of the four 
above mentioned judges. These two courts are often referred 
to as one body, in fact their sessions were held together. They 
were required to meet in the months of February, May, Auo-ust, 
and November, each year. Three of the judges constituted a 
quorum for business as a Court of Common Pleas, while the 
fourth judge occupied the chair of dignity in the Court of Gen- 
eral Sessions of the Peace. When questions of importance were 
pending it was usual for all the judges to sit in the Court of 
General Sessions. This tribunal had jurisdiction over the mi- 
nor criminal oliences committed in the county. It was to "keep 
and cause to be kept the laws and ordinances made for the good 
of the peace and for the conservation of the same, and for the 
quiet rule and government of our people." To chastise and 
punish all persons offending against the form of these laws and 
ordinances "Imprisonments, fines, the whipping post, the stocks 
and the pillory" were their instruments of punishment. This 
court was also given the management of the financial aflairs of 
the county, and necessarily had much to do with the enforce- 
ment of the collection of the obnoxious taxes which so aunoj'ed 
the people. 

The counsellors for the Regulators had now determined on 
showing a bold front, and to present their claims for redress in 



74 

stronger terms. Their friends in Ilampsliire count}' had organ- 
ized themselves for the purpose of using force when necessar}-. 
Worcester count}' also had produced an armed body of men who 
had successfully overawed the exactions courts at Worcester ; 
the militia had thus far failed to respond to the calls made on 
them to sustain the courts, and to many of the Regulators the 
way seemed certainly open to success. The courts of Common 
Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace were next to be held 
at Concord and Taunton, both on the same day, Tuesday Sept. 
12th, and as it had been intimated that at attempt might be 
made to prevent their sitting at these places, the oflicers of 
government resolved to call out the militia for the counties of 
Middlesex and Bristol, feeling confident that the inhabitants of 
these districts would prove more loyal than those in the western 
counties had shown themselves. The call having been made, 
a delegation from the people of Concord and other towns in the 
vicinity waited on the proper authorities and asked that the 
order might be rescinded ; that the popular excitement would 
be greatly alleviated by so doing, while its enforcement would 
only add fuel to the flame ; and they would see to it that com- 
petent committees should be in readiness for the purpose of 
conferring with such armed men as should appear for the })ur- 
pose of interfering with the courts, who would advise them 
to desist from the use of force and adopt more moderate meas- 
ures. The delegates were receiAcd with favor and the order 
countermanded for Middlesex, but was to remain in force in 
Bristol count}' conditionally. These well meaning pacificators 
did not know their men : their good promises did not avail any- 
thing, for on Monday Sept. 11th, about 100 men under Job 
Shattuck of Groton and Capt. Nathan Smith of Shirley, entered 
the town of Concord and hastily constructed a rude camp with 
boards and posts in which several loads of liay were furnished 
by the quartermaster to be used for beds while several kegs of 
rum were on tap to give zest to the occasion. Tuesday, these 
men took })Ossession of the court house, and set sentinels to 
guard the place. About two o'clock in the afternoon, one of 
the Regulators acting as Sergeant, accompanied by fife and 
drums, went out a short distance from the court house and re- 



turned with about an luuulred more armed men under Wheeler 
of IIubl)ardston and Converse of Ilardwick. A convention of 
the inhabitants of Middlesex county was there in .session ; dele- 
gates from twenty-six or twenty-seven towns had met at Brown's 
tavern, but not being acommodated with sullicient room there, 
anjourned to the meeting house. At the same time the judges, 
justices and attendants of the courts were at Jones' tavern where 
they took clinner and were Avaiting events. 

The following notice was posted on the court house door : 

To the Hon. Jii.stices of the Court of iSe>tshns of the Peace and 
Court (f Common Pleas^i in the County of Middlesex. 

The voice of the people of this county is, that the Court of 
General Sessions of the Peace and Court of Common Pleas 
shall not enter tiiis court house until such times as the peo- 
ple shall have redress from the number of grievances they 
labor under at present, which will be set forth in a petition 
or remonstrance to the next General Court. 

Concord, September 12. 17SG. 

J. >'^S-STYij^dK. 

Later in the aftei'uoou it received the following endorsement : 

Since Aviitin"' the within it has been arranoed that the Court of Sessions 
may open and adjourn to the first Tuesday of November next, without going 
into the court house. 

As the Judges concluded it would be unwise to attempt the 
transaction of business, they sent word to the Regulators that 
neither court would l)e opened as it was impossible with the 
armed force before them. 

The Regulators now numbered about 300, some 220 armed with 
guns, the remainder with swords and clubs, led by Job Shat- 
tuck of Groton, Nathan Smith of Shirley, Adam "Wheeler of Hub- 
bardston, Abraham Gale of Princeton, Converse of Hardwick, 
and IMorris. During" the afternoon of Tuesday some of the sol- 
diers who had partaken too freeh' of the stimulating rations, 
became quite lawless, and one Nathan Smith of Shirley was so 
reckless that he is reported to have said, accompanying the same 
with oaths, that every person who did not follow his drum in 
two hours, whether he be court, town committee, or otherwise, 



7G 

should be driven out of town at the point of the bayonet ; and 
whoever should be left would be "monuments of God's sparing 
mercy," to which the leader of the company from Worcester 
county replied, telling Smith that unless he recalled those words, 
he and his men would never join his company. Smith retracted, 
they joined forces, and the courts were compelled, at Concord, to 
yield to the popular demand. At Taunton the Regulators were 
more successful, although they did not take possession of the 
court house they turned out in far greater numbers than the mili- 
tia, and by their presence prevented the sitting of the courts.* 
At this time it was estimated that not more than one quarter 
of the people in the state could be relied upon as being firm 
supporters of government. This was well understood by the 
judges of the courts as well as the chief officer of state. But 
the remaining three quarters of the people while they desired 
reformation in the government, did not wish its annihilation, 
for which so many lives had been sacrificed and so much treasure 
expended. And now the issue came, either to support the 
government or take up arms to destroy it ; there could be no 
middle course. ]\Iany were inclined to wait for the correction 
of abuses in the new constitution, which at most was but an ex- 
periment. This kind of feeling took possession of many who 
had been ardent supporters and participators in the numerous 
conventions which had created so much enthusiasm throughout 
the state. 



* Here a greater effort was made to get out the militia, or they -were more 
willing to respond to the eall, and several companies (about 300 men) re- 
ported to Major Gen. David Cobb, who took possession of the court house. 
This force consisted of nine companies; two from Dalton, under Captains 
AValker and Talbot ; two or three from Bridgcwater, under Col. Orr ; two 
from llaynham, under Captains Hall and Washburn ; one from Rehoboth, 
under Lieutenants Peak and Carpenter ; one from Taunton, under Captain 
Williams, and one from South Taunton, under Captain Townshend. The 
Regulators were commanded by David Valentine. 

The courts with due deference to the majority and the wish of the people 
adjourned without day, although in this instance they Avere sustained and 
protected by the strong arm of the state. 



While this auitation was "-oiiio- on in Bristol and Middlesex 
counties, the excitement was running high in the western por- 
tion of the state. Between two and three thousand men assem- 
bled at Great Barrington, Berkshire county, to prevent the 
sitting of the courts in that place. A correspondent, under date 
of Sept. IG, 178(!, writes as follows: "'Tuesdaj- last was a 
melancholy da^-. From ten p. m. the preceding da}' until Tues- 
day eve our streets were crowded with men in arms — discon- 
tented people of the county, assembled to suppress the courts. 
The militia were ordered out but only made matters worse. 
Between two and three thousand men were out, four fifths at 
least were on the side of opposition. The court met at a pri- 
vate house and adjourned without da}-. The court house was 
strictly guarded. The Insurgents entered the house where the 
justices were, and at the point of the bayonet extorted such en- 
gagements from them as suited their capricious and absurd hu- 
mors.* They opened the prison and set at large those confined 
for debt, and threatened to demolish the court house." 

The Regulators now turned their attention to Springfield, 
where the Supreme Judicial Court was to convene. It was not 
because they stood in fear of indictments, for wherever the 
lower courts had been able to transact any business, they failed 
thtough their jurors of finding bills against any of the Insurgents, 
llie signal for an alarm in Springfield on this occasion was 
sounded on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, by Elisha Porter Esq., 
high sheriif of Hampshire county, who on his arrival from Had- 
ley informed the people of Springfield that men were assembling 
for the purpose of preventing the sitting of the court at that 
place, and informed Maj. Gen. William Shepard and also order- 
ed the court house guarded. That night the inhabitants of the 
town furnished the guard but were relieved Sunday morning by 
a comi)any of militia from Northampton ; and friends of govern- 
ment to the number of 800, armed and officered with five or six 



* The engagement here refered to, that was forced from the justices, was 
an agreement not to act under their commissions tmtil the grievances of the 
people were redressed, which they signed. 



78 

hundred spectators, all with pieces of white paper in their hats 
to distinguish themselves from the Regulators. The judges 
arrived Monday evening and Tuesday morning, and proceeded 
to business, but adjourned from da}' to day to Thursday the 
28th, and then adjourned without day. The opposition party 
present on Tuesday morning the 25th was estimated at GOO, and 
by evening had increased to iJOO well armed men under Capt. 
Daniel Shays. The}' also had their quota of camp followers to 
the number of 500, all with green boughs in their hats. 

The opposing parties seemed to be very equally' matched as 
to numbers, but there appeared to be no desire for crossing 
swords. They faced each other until Wednesday the 27th, 
when committes were chosen b}' each of the contending parties 
to meet and devise some honorable means for a release from this 
awkward dilemma of two well armed forces confronting each 
other, neither wishing to strike a blow, and both ready to ofler 
an excuse for their presence. The conclusion of the joint 
committee was, that Gen. Shepard march his troops on Con- 
tinental Hill and there disband ; Capt. Shays to march his 
men to ground adjacent to the court house and disband, every 
man to immediately return to his liome. This Avas done, and 
the report goes on to say that in consequence of this disturbance, 
the high sheriff ordered the criminals confined in the jail in that 
town to be set at liljcrt}'. Quite likel}- this was a pai-t of the 
the programme arranged b}- the committees on Wednesday, the 
Regulators gaining so much by the compromise. 

The feeling of dissatisfaction with the management of the 
affairs of the state had now become trulj' alarming. The excite- 
ment was intense, and quite general throughout the Connnon- 
wealth, while tlie same sentiment had made its appearance 
among the people of other states — Connecticut, Rhode Island 
and New Hampshire. In the latter state the legislature having 
failed to grant the prayers of certain petitions presented by dis- 
affected persons, those persons organized themselves into an 
armed force, and on the 20th daj- of Sept.. 17«(!, marched in- 
to Exeter and surrounded the meeting house where both houses 
of assembly were in session, and tried to enforce their demands 
with threats of death to any person wlio should attempt to 



'9 



escape until they were granted. Their cry Avas for paper nion- 
e}', an equal distribution of propert}', and a release from debts. 
During the day the legislators were thus held in confinement 
without passing a single act for the relief of their their threaten- 
ing captors. Early on that Wednesday evening the loyal in- 
habitants of Exeter and vicinity rallied to the relief of their law 
makers, and the familiar roll of the drum calling the men to- 
gether, and their loud huzzas for government reached the ears 
of the insurrectionists, who thought discretion the better part of 
valor and withdrew rather than provoke an attack which they 
felt sui'e would come if the}' continued longer to hold the legis- 
lature in continement. The same evening orders were issued 
calling out the state militia to quell the insurrection, and on the 
next day the chief ofticer in the movement with about forty of 
his followers were arrested, but only six were detained for trial 
for treason. Two others were subsequently arrested and tried 
for the same olfence, but all were linally released. 

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the courts in Middle- 
sex and Bristol counties were inoperative, while on account of 
organized armed opposition it was impossible for the courts to 
transact any business in the counties of Worcester, Hampshire, 
or Berkshire. This leit but a very small portion of the territory- 
of the state under the control of its governor. A proclamation 
had been issued calling together the members of the General 
Court on the 18th of October. But the decided stand taken by 
the opposition party and their bold actions influenced Governor 
Bowdoin to issue another call, fixing Wednesday the 27th day 
of September for their coming together ; and at the opening for 
business the Governor took occasion to address that honorable 
body un the condition of alfuirs within the commonwealth, stat- 
ing the danger that might come from such unjustifiable actions 
of the insurgents, and how he had attempted to suppress them. 
"If the people," he said, "would not be obedient to orders is- 
sued for their own safety, (referring to the failure of the militia 
to respond to his call) the consequences were imputable only to 
themselves." The speech was cordially received, but the major- 
ity of the General Court was not found in favor of adopting any 
coercive measures towards the people. 



80 

They felt that the first thing for them to do was to remove, 
so far as it was in their power, all causes for discontent, believ- 
ing when this was done nothing further would be heard of in- 
surrections. 

County conventions were again in order, eighteen towns in 
Middlesex, forty-one in Worcester, and all but one in Bristol, 
met in convention in their several counties, and petitions were 
framed and sent to the General Court. That body, however, 
looked with some suspicion upon the acts of these conventions, 
considering them as rather wanting the constitutional impress ; 
and that it was necessary for these petitions to be referred back 
to the several towns for their endorsements before they could 
legally come before them for their action. But the petitions, 
whether from the towns or counties, were so nearly alike that 
they decided to consider the following articles : The sitting of the 
General Court in Boston ; the institution and regulation of the 
courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace, 
with the mode of holding the Probate courts ; the burdens of the 
people arising from the scarcity of money and the difficulties 
thereby accruing in the payment of back taxes and private debts ; 
the mode of appropriating the proceeds of the import and excise 
duties ; the fee bill and the salaries of the officers of government. 
These matters were at once referred to the proper committees, 
and the work of reconstruction began. Although the annual 
salary of the Governor had been previously fixed at £1100 by a 
vote of the legislature under the constitution, this General Court 
voted that it was within the province of that body to fix this 
salary from year to year ; that in their opinion it v.as too high 
at the present time and should be considerably reduced, as well 
as the salaries of all other state officers, at the first session of the 
next legislature. In fact the entire session was passed in faith- 
fully trying to find and adopt some measures that would afford 
relief to their sufTeriug constituency. The house voted to re- 
move the court from Boston if it could be done with an3' advan- 
tage to the people ; and a committee consisting of one from each 
county was appointed to report at the next session upon a suit- 
able place. An address to the people was issued and sent to 
every town in the state, for the purpose of informing them of the 



SI 



exact condition of public matters, and trying to show that much 
of the dissatisfaction and unrest aniono- the people came largely 
from a lack of knowledge relating to the atfairs of state ; that 
false rumors Jiad been put in circulation by designing men to 
embitter them against an administration that was doing all in its 
power for the welfare and prosperity of her people. Mr. Isaiah 
Thomas in his Worcester Magazine, speaking of the court, says: 
"We must acknowledge, no General Court since the Revolution, 
have deserved more of their countr}', nor could any court have 
made greater exertions to restore the public tranquility' in times 
of ditliculty and danger." A general pardon was granted all 
persons who had taken part in the insurrection, upon their tak- 
ing the oath of allegiance previous to the first day of Jan., 1787. 
The suspension of the writ of /K(6fa.s co?7>?<s and the provision 
for trying persons charged with high treason was to take place 
under the same condition. A bill passed the house of repre- 
sentatives to be engrossed for regulating the proceedings in the 
courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace ; and 
after having given much time to the removal of some of the 
thorns in the tiesh, they hoped that discord might disappear, 
and to discourage the appearance of further armed resistance, a 
riot act was passed, as well as a vote to sustain the Governor 
in calling out the militia to support theSupreme Judicial courts 
which were about to be held at Taunton and Cambridge. These 
acts of the General Court had their influence upon the people, 
and at Taunton no opposition was ottered to the court ; and in 
Cambridge the militia numbering over 2000 under command of 
]\Iajor Gen. John Brooks held peaceable possession of the place. 
The next court to convene was that of General Sessions for 
Worcester, which had been adjourned to Nov. 21st. The oppo- 
nents of law and order had not forgotten the day to which the 
court had been adjourned, and on its arrival they had mustered 
from the then sparsel}' populated interior of Worcester County 
quite an imposing body of determined men who had pledged 
themselves to resist the transaction of legal business. A little 
company' of armed men, about GO in number, under Abraham 
Gale of Princeton, arrived in town, and during Wednesday 
others came in from Shrewsbury and Hubbardston, under Adam 



82 

Wheeler of the latter place.* The court met according to ad- 
jourument at Patch's tavern, and a petition was presented by a 
committee from the Regulators, requesting them to adjourn until 
after a new choice of representatives. The court decided that 
it was not in their power to accede to such a request. On being 
informed of this, by their committee, the Regulators took pos- 
session of the ground about the court house. It was now left 
for the justices and court attendants to perform their duties so 
far as possible. They had no armed force to sustain them, no 
militia at their command, but with true courage they set out for 
the court house, the high sherift', Col. William Greenleaf of 
Lancaster, taking the lead. They were allowed to proceed to 
within a short distance of the steps when they were confronted 
by three rows of fixed bayonets which they were uuable to pass, 
and after the reading of the riot act by the high sheriff, the jus- 
tices dispersed without transacting any business. 



* Mr. Adam Wheeler Avho was in command of a company of Ile2;ulators 
at the time just referred to, had caused the following to be published: 

HuBBARDSTON, Nov. 7th. 178G. 

To THE PUBLIC : — We have lately emerged from a bloody war in Avhich 
liberty was the glorious prize aimed at. I early stepped forth in the defence 
of this country, and cheerfully fought to gain this prize, and liberty is still 
the object I have in view. When moved with the distress of the people, I 
stepped forth in a private capacity, with others, to oppose the sitting of the 
courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace, and when I was 
promoted to take command I had no intention to destroy the public govern- 
ment, but to have the courts suspended to prevent such abuses as have of 
late taken place by sitting of those courts, distressed to see valuable and 
industrious members of society dragged from their families to prison, to the 
great damage, not only of their families but the community at large, wait- 
ing to have redress of such grievances in a constitutional way, and as lib- 
erty is the prize I still have in view, and in this glorious course I am deter- 
mined to stand with firmness and resolution. The .Supreme court I never 
had any intention to disturb, but used my endeavors to prevent others 
therefrom. If this should be called in question I wish to be put to prove it. 

So I remain the public's humble servant, 

AIJAM WHEELER. 



8?> 



At this time perliaps the opposition party was not as strong 
numerically as it had been ; the timid and vacillating ones had 
withdrawn ; those remaining had been thoroughly organized 
and equipped for a vigorous campaign. Governor Bowdoin 
and his councillors saw what must coMe — a sharp, decisive blo/o 
from the governme7it, or they were hopelessly lost. November 
25th, the Governor called upon the major generals in the state 
to see that their divisions were perfectly organized and equipped 
read}- to take the field ; and expressed a hope that the militia 
would not be found wanting.* Opportunities for receiving par- 
dons prortered by the General Court to the leaders of the insur- 
rection had not been improved to any extent, and government 
began to display her authority' by issuing warrants for the arrest 
of certain prominent instigators among the Regulators in the 
county of Middlesex. Early on the morning of November 29th, 
the sheriff armed with a bundle of writs, attended by a company 
of troopers who had volunteered for the purpose under Col. 
Benjamin Hichborn, proceeded from Boston to Concord. On 
their way they were joined by a party of loyalists from the town 



* Humors reached the ears of the Governor and his official staff that a 
combined effort on the part of the Insurgents had been set on foot to prevent 
the sittings of the court which were soon to convene at Concord and Cam- 
bridge, and Monday Nov. 21) th Major Gen. Benjamin Lincoln issued the 
following division orders : "The Major General directs that at the moment 
authentic information shall be received, which will be announced by the 
discharge of 8 cannon on Fort Hill, that the Insurgents are embodying 
thenselves at Cambridge, the Independent Cadets, Independent Light In- 
fantry, and the Republican Volunteers are to take post at South River 
Bridge. These corps are to be relieved as soon as possible by the regiments 
of this town. The company of artillery post with them at the bridge. The 
corps relieved will advance to Charlestown Neck. The horse are to be in 
advance, one division of them to take post on the road leading from Charles- 
town Neck to Cambridge, and the other is to take post on the road leading 
from Cambridge to Medford. The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- 
pany to take post at the fortification." 

On AVednesday, Nov. 2S>th, the Governor, as commander-in-chief, issued 
an order for the militia to be ready to march at the shortest notice. Tour 
regiments were put in order to protect the courts in the county of Essex ; 
the militia of Barnstable county were called out to silence a little unpleas- 
antness that was beginning to show itself in that quarter. 



84 

of Groton, under command of Col. Henry Wood. The posse 
now numbered one hundred strong, and was sufflcientl}' large to 
to attract public attention, so it was divided by despatching the 
Groton party to serve writs on on a little company of Eegulators 
whom they hoped to take by surprise. It seems they were in a 
measure successful, for they soon returned bringing with them 
Oliver Parker and Benjamin Page, both of Groton. But Capt. 
Job Shattuck, the leader most coveted, had made his escape. 
That night, in the face of a violent snow storm, the whole posse 
rode to Groton and surrounded the house where Capt. Shattuck 
lived only to find that he had again evaded their grasp and taken 
to the woods, where, after a dilligent search, he was discovered 
by a small party under Col. Henry Wood. Shattuck was not 
taken without some effort on the part of his pursuers, and was 
not secured until he had received several wounds, one of them 
quite serious. Capt. Shattuck had been a soldier in the French 
war and a commissioned officer in the war of the revolution, a 
man well qualified to be a leader or to fill an important place in 
this popular movement. When arrested, Thursday November 
30th, he was armed with a broadsword with which he skilfully 
kept at bay his captors until forced to yield to superior numbers. 
His wounds consisted of several cuts across his face and hands ; 
but the one considered most serious was a division of the cap- 
sular lio-ament at the joint of the riffht knee. He was at once 
taken to a house where his wounds were dressed, after which he 
was placed in a sleigh and taken to Boston and confined in jail. 
(This was on the first day of December, the sherilf and his escort 
returning the same day.) He was given a comfortable room on 
the second floor of the building and supplied with suitable bed- 
ding, a competent nurse and medical aid. But his wound 
proved a serious matter, nearly costing him his life. So much 
sympathy w\t,s expressed for him by the public that a statement 
of his case was made through the Boston papers, Jan. 4, 1787. 
He was allowed to make choice of surgeons, consequently Wed- 
nesday December 20tli, he was placed in the hands of Mr. Kit- 
tredge of Tewksbury, under whose care he recovered. He was 
tried for high treason, convicted and sentenced to be hung, but 
subsequently received a i)ardon, after he had suffered by reason 



85 

of confinement and a dangerous wound, all hut death itself."* 
About the same time tliat the slieritl' with liis escort pet out 
from Boston for Concord, forty men, some of them said to be 
prominent and wealth}- citi;5ens of r>oston, under command of 
majors Spooner and Brimmer, left lloxbury for the purpose of 
taking a survey of Worcester count}' to ascertain the possible 
strength and situation of the Insurgents in that locality, and 
perchance to capture such of their leaders as might come in 
their way. They were, however, obliged to return to Boston 
with only acquired information, after having wounded one or 
two men in the attempt to arrest them in Shrewsbury'.! 

The first week in December was close at hand, and a session 
of the court of Common Pleas was expected at that time in 
Worcester. The Regulators were making preparation for de- 
termined resistance to any effort tliat might be made on the part 
of government to sustain this court. A force one thousand 
strong collected in and about Worcester, and for more conveni-" 
ent accommodation for the men they were divided into small 
detachments. Capt. Shays with his followers from Hampshire 
county marched to Rutland and took quarters in the barracks. 
Some were quartered at Shrewsbury, others at Grafton and 



* He was son of William and Margaret (Lund) Sliattuck, born in Groton 
February 11, 1735-6, and died there January 13, 1819. 

t This little raid called forth the following letter to Capt. Ilervey, a mem- 
ber of the General Court from Montague. 

Shrewsbury Dec. 2, 1776, 

Sir : The seeds of war are now sown. Two of our men are now bleeding 
that were wounded by the light-horse that came from Boston and Roxbury. 
I request you to let this letter be read, and for you and every man to supply 
men and provisions and relieve us with a re- enforcement. We are deter- 
mined here to carry our point. Our case is yours. Don't give yourselves 
rest and let us die here for we are all brethren. Four of our men are taken 
prisoners and carried to Boston, We must be relieved or you know the 
event, take my meaning for I am in haste. 

Sir', I remain your humble servant. 

THOMAS GROVER, 
ELISHA PONDELL. 
Per Order, Daniel Shays, Capt. 



86 

Holden. Orders were issued by Capt Shays to many towns in 
Hampshire county, and also in Worcester county, for the men 
to turn out and join hiia at Rutland. Sunday evening Dec. 3d, 
the Regulators who went to Grafton marched into Worcester 
under command of Abraham Gale of Princeton, Adam Wheeler 
of Hubbardston, Simeon Hazeltine of Hardwick, and John 
Williams, (a reputed deserter from the British army, aud who 
had served as Sergeant in the continental line,) aud took pos- 
session of the court house, their strength being materially re- 
enforced during the night. Again the Regulators had achieved 
an easy victor}' through the unwillingness of the militia to turn 
out against them. Gov. Bowdoin had intimated his purpose 
to tvphold the session of the court at this time^ and orders had 
been given to Major Gen. Warner to call out the militia of his 
division for this purpose, and five regiments were directed to be 
in readiness to march at a moments notice. But tlie sheriff 
reported that a suflicient force could not be collected, and it 
was exceedingly doubtful if anv considerable number of the 
militia could be relied on in this locality. Government then 
decided to raise a sufficient force of volunteers to crush out the 
insurrection ; and the judges were advised to adjourn the court 
to Tuesday the 23d day of January, 1787, to give time for the 
organization of such an army. 

But we must not overlook the fact that there were loyal men 
in Worcester, for on Monda}', agreeal)Ie to orders, the training 
band and alarm list paraded on the common. About 170 men 
turned out. They marched to the Hancock Arms tavern, pas- 
sing on their way the company of Insui'gents who stood on pa- 
rade while they passed. After reaching the tavern thoy return- 
ed to parade and were dismissed until 10 a. m. the following day. 

In the evening the Regulators beat to arms fearing the ap- 
proach of the light-horse said to be on the way from Boston ; 
the alarm however proved to be false, but a guard was posted 
in the court house, while the rest of the party were ordered to 
la}' on their arras during the night. About sunset a terrific 
snow storm set in, more severe than had been known here for 
years ; and news came that several companies of militia were 
on the way from Leominster, Brookfield and other towns. 



87 

Tuesday the storm continued with unabated fuiy — roads were 
ahnost impassible, yet a number of men from llolden and other 
towns came in and joined the Insurgents. 8ome of the judges 
were unable to reach the town, but in the afternoon court was 
opened at the Sun tavern and adjourned b}' proclamation to the 
23d of January. AVednesda^- morning 8U men from Belchertown 
and other places came in and joined the Regulators. A com- 
mittee from Sutton and Douglas arrived in town after the court 
had adjourned, with a petition asking that the court adjourn 
until the March term : they had undoubtedl}' been dela^'ed by 
the condition of the roads and therefore arrived too late to be 
of service. 

The Regulators were apparrentlj' masters of the situation. 
The Hon. Samuel Baker of Berlin, one of the justices, was 
stopped by a guard as he was leaving town to go to his home, 
but was soon released. Tuesday evening the Insurgents placed 
sentries around the house of Hon. Joseph Allen, where the Hon. 
Chief Justice Artemas "Ward, late speaker of the house of repre- 
sentatives was stopping, but no personal violence was oti'ered 
him. About two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon Capt. Shays, 
mounted on a white horse, arrived with about three hundred 
and fifty men, and after joining the companies already in town, 
a grand parade was made about the streets. The men were 
then dismissed, and quartered on the inhabitants who freely 
gave them food and shelter, 'Capt. Shays being cared for at the 
house of Col. Samuel Fkigg. Thursday the military leaders 
held a consultation in regard to future movements, and while 
reports were rife that it was the intention of this little army to 
march direct!}' to Boston* for the purpose of liberating their 
brothers who were incarcerated there, they were engaged in 
drafting a petition to tlie Governor and council and addresses 
to the people at large, and Hampshire count}' in particular. 



* Governor Bowdoin was so fearful that they might come to Boston, that 
he issued orders to Major Gen. Brooks to hold the Middlesex militia in close 
proximity to the Worcester road, and to despatch persons to watch the force 
at Worcester. 



88 

As these addresses were framed in Worcester I give tbem in 
full, to show more plainly the popular sentiment of the day. 

An address to the peo])le of the several towns in the County of 
Hampshire noio at arms. 

Gentlemen : — We have thought proper to inform you of some 
of the principal causes of the late risings of the people, and also 
of their present movements, viz : 1st. The present expensive 
mode of collecting debts, which by reason of the great scarcity 
of cash, will of necessity- fill our jails with unhappy debtors, and 
thereb}' a reputable body of people rendered incapable of being 
serviceable either to themselves or the community'. 2d. The 
monies raised by impost and excise being appropriated to dis- 
charge the interest of government securities, and not the foreign 
debt, when these securities are not subject to taxation. 3d. 
A suspension of the writ of habeas corpus b}' whieli tliose per- 
sons who have stepped forth to assert and maintaui the rights 
of the people, are liable to be taken and convej'ed even to the 
most distant part of the Commonwealth, and thereby subjected 
to an unjust punishment. 4th. The unlimited power granted 
to justices of the peace, sheriffs, deputy sherift's and constables, 
by the riot act, indemnif3'ing them to the prosecution thereof, 
when perhaps wholly actuated from a princijile of revenge, 
hatred and env}-. Furthermore, be assured that this l)ody, 
now at arms, despise the idea of being instigated by British em- 
missaries, which is so strenuously propagated by the enemies of 
our liberties. And also wish the most proper and speedy meas- 
ures ma}' be taken to discharge both our foreign and domestic 

debt. 

Per order. 

■ DANIEL GRAY, 

Chairman of the committee 
for the above purpose. 

The other address is as follows : 

To the j)r inter of the RepiihJirati Herald . 

Sir : — It has somehow or other fallen to my lot to be emplo}'- 
ed in a more conspicuous manner than some others of my fellow 
citizens, in stepping forth in defense of the rights and privileges 
of the people, more especially of the county of Hampshire. 



80 

Therefore, upon the desire of the people now iit arms, 1 take 
tliis method to publish to the world of mankind in general, par- 
ticularly the people of this commonwealth, some of the pi'incipal 
grievances we complain of and of which we are now seeking re- 
dress, and mean to contend for until a i-edress can be obtained, 
wliich we hope will soon take place, and if so our brethren in 
this comn)onwealth who do not see with us as 3'et, shall find we 
shall be as peaceable as they are. In the first place I must re- 
fer vou to a drauglit of grievances drawn up bv a committee of 
the peoi)le now at arms, under the signature of Daniel Gray, 
chairman, which is heartih' approved of, some others also are 
here added, viz : 1st. The General Court for obvious reasons 
must be removed out of the town of Boston. 2d. A revision of 
the constitution is absolutely necessary. 3d. All kinds of gov- 
ernmental securities now on interest that have been bought of 
the original owners for two shillings, three shillings, four shil- 
lings, and the highest for six shillings and eight pence on the 
pound, and have received more interest than the principal cost 
the speculator who purchased them ; that if justice was done, 
we verily believe, nay positively know, it would save this com- 
monwealth thousands of pounds. 4th. Let the lands belonging 
to this commonwealth at the eastward, be sold at the best ad- 
vantage to pay the remainder of our domestic debt. 5th. Let 
the monies arising from impost and excise be appropriated to 
discharge the foreign debt. Gth. Let that act passed by the 
General Court last June l\v a small majority of only seven, 
called the supplementary aid, for twenty-five years to come, be 
repealed. 7th. The total abolition of the Inferior Court of 
Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace. 8th. Dep- 
uty sheriffs totally set aside as a useless set of officers in the 
community, and constables who are really necessary, be impow- 
ered to do the duty, by which means a large swarm of lawyers 
will be banished from their wonted haunts, who have been more 
damage to the people at large, especially the common farmers, 
than the savage beasts of prey. To this I boldly sign my prop- 
er name, as a hearty well wisher to the real rights of the people. 

THOMAS GROVER. 
Worcester, December 7th, 17S(i. 



90 

Again the Regulators were successful in Worcester, the ob- 
ject of their visit having been accomplished, and man}' of them 
returned to their homes. The exceptionall}' severe weather had 
given them a hard trial during the past week, but their courage 
and physical strength were equal to the demands of the cam- 
paign. Capt. Shays with a portion of his command, about 500 
in number, returned on Thursda}- afternoon b}' wa}' of -Paxton 
to the barracks at Rutland.* One hundred men left for the 
north part of the town in order, they said, to quarter at Bige- 
low's tavern about four miles from the meeting house. Capt. 
Luke Da}-, who was in command of a small force stationed near 
Springfield, was ordered b}- Capt. Shays (Dec. 3d.) to march 
to Worcester at once ; but on account of the condition of the 
roads he made slow progress, reaching Leicester on the after- 
noon of Frida}', Dec. 8th, and as his services were not required 
in Worcester, he remained there until IMonday the 11th, and 
then retraced his Steps to Springfield. Saturday morning, De- 
cember Kth, there came another snow storm, but about noon the 
remaining Regulators paraded before Patch's tavern and then 
started for home, one company from Ward, one from Holden, 
others from Spencer, Rutland, Barre, Hubbardston and Peters- 
ham ; and by night the town was clear of them, and peace and 
quietness again took the place of the sound of martial music 
and the measured tread of men in arms. 

Springtield was the next objective point, as Tuesday, Decem- 
ber 26th, was the da}' fixed by the legislature for holding the 
Judicial Court at that place. Thither Shays marched his little 
army, and took possession of the court house, posting bis guards 
in true military style. He then sent a communication to the 
judges requesting that no business be transacted by the court, 
to which they readily assented. The news of tlie result here 
reached Boston six days after its occurrence, which shows the 
rapidity with which news travelled in those days ; but this delay 



* When Buigoyne's army was surrendered, in 1777, Rutland was selected 
as a place of safety for the prisoners. Here several acres were enclosed by 
a stockade twelve feet high, within which was constructed barracks for the 
accommodation of soldiers. These barracks were used bv Shavs in 178fi. 



91 

ma}' have been parti}' occasioned by the wi-etched condition of 
the roads at this season of the year. 

It shouh] l)e remembered that January 1st, 1787, was the 
limit fixed to the time for taking the oath of allegiance and re- 
ceiving pardon. A considerable number had availed themselves 
of this opportunit}-. l>ut the time had now gone by, and still 
men were in arms to prevent the action of the inferior courts in 
several counties in the state, and Gov. Bowdoin issued orders 
to raise 440U rank and tile, to serve for 3U days if not sooner 
discharged, and to march for the protection of the courts to be 
held at Worcester, January 23d, 1787, Seven hundred men 
were to be raised from the county of Suffolk, 500 from Essex, 
800 from JMiddlesex, 1200 from Worcester, and 1200 from 
Hampshire; and Major Gen. Benjamin Lincoln was to com- 
mand the force. The legislature was not in session, and there 
was no money in the treasury- to equip and maintain such an 
arm}' ; but a few lo\'al gentlemen about Boston volunteered to 
loan the government £()000, and the work of organizing the little 
army went on, for it might not be safe to trust the fate of the 
Commonwealth to the militia at this time. 

Governor Bowdoin now had something to work with, and 
January 12th, he issued an address to the people, in which he 
stated that he had ordered a part of the militia to assemble in 
arms for the purpose of protecting the Judicial Court at Wor- 
cester ; of aiding the civil magistrates in executing the laws ; 
of repelling all insurgents against the government ; and of ap- 
prehending all disturbers of the public peace, etc ; and appealed 
to all men of principle, and friends of justice, to give their sup- 
port to his endeavor. He also issued an order to Gen. Benja- 
min Lincoln, (Jan. l!)th,) to protect the courts at Worcester; 
and on the 24th of January he gave him additional instructi<ms 
at the request of both Generals Lincoln and Shepard, to appre- 
hend, disarm and secure all persons who in a hostile manner 
should attempt or enterprise the destruction, invasion, detri- 
ment or anno^'ance of the Commonwealth, and particularly all 
such bodies of armed men as were or might be assembled in the 
counties of Worcester, Hampshire, Berkshire, or elsewhere in 
the state. 



92 

On Friday Jan. 19th, 1787, this army met by appointment at 
Roxbury, and soon started on the march for Worcester, where 
they arrived on Monday the 22d. The presence of so large a 
body of armed supporters of government contributed greatly to 
strengthen confidence in the ability of the Governor to sustain 
the administration, and man}' persons who to this time had con- 
tinued to labor with the opposition, were now won over to the 
side of government rather than encourage a civil war — a calam- 
ity which there seemed no possible chance to avert should the 
Regulators, who were well officered and organized, stand and 
face the enemy sent for their captui'e or annihilation. 

It must be kept in mind that the inhabitants of Worcester 
County were not and never had been in favor of resorting to 
armed force ; and as no force came at this time from Hampshire 
County to prevent the sitting of the courts, they were allowed 
to proceed without molestation for the first time in five months. 

All e3'es were again turned towards Springfield, around which 
place the Regulators were concentrating a strong force. Before 
Gen. Lincoln left Roxbury with his army, orders had been 
issued to Gen. William Shepard to collect as many of the militia 
in Hampshire County as he convenient!}' could, and take pos- 
session of that post, all of which he had done, he having about 
one thousand men at his command, well equipped with arms 
from the continental arsenal, at which ])oint the miltia were 
stationed. Capt Shays with 1100 men was also there occupying 
one part of the town, while Capt. Luke Day with 400 men were 
stationed at AVest Springfield, and Capt Eli Parsons with 400 
more Regulators from Berkshire County was in possession of 
the north part of the town.* On AVednesday. Jan. 24th. Capt. 
Shays sent a message to Day asking his co-operation in a con- 
templated movement to take place the following day in front of 
the forces under Gen. Sliepard. Day replied that he could not 
assist him on the 2rHh, but would on the 2(Jth. This reply was 
intercepted and fell into the hands of Gen. Shepard. Captain 
Shays receiving no rep!}' supposed that Capt. Day was going 
to act with him on the 25th. 



* Minot says of this army, that it was respectable from their numbers and 
large proportion of old Continental followers. 



93 



Tlie main body of the state troops luuler Gen. Lincoln was at 
this time two days march from Springfield, making the situation 
of Shopard and his men seem truly a critical one ; and so anx- 
ious was Gen. Lincoln for their safety- that he instructed Gen. 
Brooks on the "ioth to proceed with the Middlesex militia to 
Springfield with all possible speed. The Regulators concentra- 
ted here numbered nearly 20UO, about double the force under 
Gen. Shepard, and with the only re-enforcement of state troops 
two days march distant. Why did not Shays order an assault 
at once ? If he could not defeat Shepard now he certainly could 
not after the arrival of the forces under Lincoln. Would he 
not have done so had he contemplated an assault? Neither 
does it appear that he really thought Shepard would order an 
attack upon him. 

Let me relate what was done according to government report- 
ers. Shays on the ■24th of January-, sent a communication from 
Wilbraham to Major Gen. Lincoln, in which he stated his un- 
willingness to be accessory to the shedding of blood, and from 
a desire to promote peace, he asked that the Insurgents might 
be saved harmless until the next sitting of the General Court ; 
that persons who had been taken by government should be re- 
leased without punishment. This being granted, the Insurgents 
would return to their homes and wait for constitutional relief. 
Now we have what- he did two days later. 

[Oen. William Shepard to Gov, James BoAvdoin.] 

'■'SprhKjJidd, January 20, 17S7. 

Sir : — The unhappy time is come in which we have been obliged 
to shed blood. Shays at the head of about 1200 men marched 
yesterday aiternoon about four toward the public buildings in 
battle array. He maix-hed his men in an open column by pla- 
toons. I sent several times by one of my aids and two other 
gentlemen. Capt. Samuel Bullington and Joshua Woodbridge to 
him to know what he was after or what he wanted. His reply 
was, he wanted harrackH, and barracks he ivould have and stores. 
The answer returned was, he must purchase them dear if he had 
them. He still proceeded his march to within 250 yards of the 
arsenal and made a halt. I immediately sent Major AVilliam 



94 

Lymau. one of m}' aids, and Capt. Bufflngtou, to inform him 
not to march his troops an}- nearer the arsenal on his peril, as 
I was stationed there by order of your Excellency and the Sec- 
retary of war, for the defence of public property-, in case he did 
I should certainly fire on him and his men. Mr. Wheeler, who 
appeared to be one of his aids, met Mr. Lyman after he had 
delivered m}' orders in the most peremptory manner, and made 
answer, that was all he wanted. Mr. Lyman returned with his 
answer. Shays immediately' put his troops in motion and march- 
ed on rapidl}' near 100 yards. I then ordered Major Stephens 
who commanded the artillery, to fire upon them : he accordingly 
did, the first two shots he endeavored to overshoot them, with 
the hope that the}' would take warning without firing among 
them, but it had no effect. Mr, Stephens then directed his shot 
through the center of his column. The fourth or fifth shot put 
the whole column into the utmost confusion. Shays made an 
effort to displa}' the column, but in vain. We had one howitzer 
which was loaded with grape shot, which when fired gave them 
great uneasiness. Had I been disposed to destroy them, I might 
have charged on their rear and flanks with my infantry and field 
pieces, and could have killed the greatei' part of his whole army 
within twenly-five minutes ; there ivas not a siin/le mufiket fired 
on either side. I found three men dead on the spot, and one 
wounded who has since died. One of our artillery men by in- 
attention was badly wounded. Three uuiskets were taken up 
with the dead which were deeply loaded. I lia\e received no 

re-enforcements and expect to be attacked this day by their 
whole force combined." 

The names of the persons killed at this time were, Jabez Spi- 
cer. Ensign Zimri Dickenson, Simeon Allen, and Obadiah VV\ard. 
Here we have the evidence of Gen. Shepard who was in com- 
mand of government troops, that not a shot iras fired l/i/ iShay's 
men, and it seems conclusive that Capt. Shays gave no orders 
to return the fire, for had he done so, they certainly would have 
obej'ed. Captain Sha3-s and his followers were no cowards. 
A long list of them were war veterans, well ai'med, and more 
than an even match for their opponents in numbers. From the 
information before me, it seems more than jiroliable that Shavs 



95 

and his men had no idea that the militia would fire upon them, 
and they were conipletel}' surprised. Had not they met before 
at this ver\' place, when a compromise was elfected that recog- 
nized the p/'csewce aiid tfw^/tor% of the Regulators? If Shays 
marched his men to the front would they not again be received 
as equals and another compromise be made? Civil war they 
certainly did not want or they could have returned the fire. 

This tragic movement on the part of the militia struck terror 
to the heart of many a Regulator ; and vSha3s is reported to 
have lost 200 men by desertion on his hasty retreat to the town 
of Ludlow, about 10 miles north-east of Springfield. But Fri- 
da}- the 2(ith he with the remainder of his force formed a junc- 
tion with Eli Parsons and his command at Chicopee. Parsons 
was called the P>erkshire leader. Gen. Lincoln with his men 
arrived in Springfield on the 27th and 28th, and immediately 
put in motion the entire government force. A portion of the 
men with artillery and horse crossed the river on the ice to at- 
tack Luke Day, who with his command was still at West Spring- 
field. They however made a hasty retreat to Northampton, 
and the reward of that chase was only a few stragglers picked 
up by the light horse. In the mean time Gen. Shepard with 
his Hampshire County militia moved up the river bank to pre- 
vent the union of Day with Shays, while Gen. Lincoln pushed 
on after the main body of the Insurgents as rapidly as the se- 
verity of the season would permit, reaching the town of Amherst 
Just in time to find that Shays witli his main army had passed 
through there on their way to Pelham, and for the time being 
were out of his reach, so he turned aside to the town of Hadley 
to quarter his troops for the night. In the morning information 
came of the capture of a number of Shepard's men by the Insur- 
gents at Southampton. Col. Baldwin in command of the Brook- 
field volunteers. 50 men in sleighs, and Col. Ebenezer Crafts 
of Worcester with 100 horse, were immediately sent in pursuit 
to retake the prisoners. About 1 2 o'clock the same night they 
came up with them at Middlefield ; it was soon ascertained that 
there were about <S0 Insurgents under Capt. Luddington, and 
that about one half of these men with their commander were 
quartered at a house together, while the remainder had taken 



96 

shelter at other houses. The house where Luddington had tak- 
en lodgings was iramediatel}' surrounded and the surrender of 
himself and part}' demanded. Slight demonstrations towards 
resistance were made, the alarm was given, and their fellows 
came to their support and the taking of life was only prevented 
b}' the cool calculation and good judgment of those in command 
of the contending parties ; a few moments parle}' and with an 
over estimated understanding of the strength of the state troops 
before them, the Insurgents laid down their arms, and 5'J pris- 
oners with 9 sleigh loads of provisions was the prize with which 
Colonels Baldwin and Crafts returned to the head quarters of 
Gen. Lincoln on the next day. 

The main body of the Insurgents under Capt. Shays was 
now posted on two high hills, known as East and West hills, in 
the town of Pelham. On Tuesday' Jan. 30th, Gen. Lincoln 
sent a letter addressed to Ccq^t. Shays and officers commanding 
men in arms against the government of the Commomvealth, the 
purport of which was an appeal to their best Judgment whether 
the taking up arms in support of their cause had proved an er- 
ror or not ; and asked them to disband their deluded followers, 
and warned them that unless such action was taken, he nuist 
advance on them, and if they fired upon his troops, the conse- 
quences might prove fatal to many ; and in order to prevent 
the shedding of blood reccommended th(tt th('i/ lafj down their 
arms an^d surrender themselves, and take the oath of allegiance 
to the Commonwealth, and he v:oidd reeominend them to the 
tnercy of the General Court. To this Capt Shays replied that 
whether tho\' had committed an error or not in taking up arms, 
circumstances had brought them where they were ; that they 
deplored the state of things and not desirous of staining the land 
they had, helped to acquire in the laW war, nv'th the blood of their 
brethren and neighbors : therefore asked that hostilities might 
cease on the part of government until the General Court might 
take action on a certain petition which had been submitted. 
Gen. Lincoln replied, "•Your request is totall}- inadmissible as 
no powers are delegated to me which would justify a delay of 
m}' operations. I have again to warn the people in arms against 
the government that they must immediately disband to avoid 



97 

the ill consequences tliut may ensue should they he inattentiA'e 
to this caution." 

It was now evidently the intention of Shays and his followers 
to gain some position that would be comparativeh- secure from 
an}' further assault until thej' could gain the attention of the 
General Court which stood adjourned to the 30th day of Jan., 
on wliich day their petition was signed at Pelhani. But owing 
to the excitement and general confusion throughout the state, 
the representatives could not be collected until February 3d, 
four days later. 

In this petition which the Insurgents had presented to the 
legislature, the}' acknowledged their sense of error in having 
had recourse to arms, and in not seeking redi'ess in a consti- 
tutional wa}' ; that they were heartily in favor of constitutional 
government ; that they would lay down their arms and retire 
quieth' to their respective homes, provided the}' and their breth- 
ren could receive a general pardon for all past and present of- 
fences. It was signed by Francis Stone, chairman of the com- 
mittee of the counties of Worcester, Hampshire, Middlesex and 
Berkshire, read and accepted by the officers. 

All along the line of march of Shays' army from Chicopee to 
Pelham, the sympathising inhabitants had given them food and 
shelter, and many had also offered their services to aid the cause. 
General Lincoln found as he passed through the town of Am- 
herst, that most of the male population had deserted their homes 
to follow Capt. Shays. It was estimated that notwithstanding 
many desertions, he had at least 2000 men with him at Pelham. 
After the sudden flight of the Insurgents from Springfield the 
officers of government concluded they might spare some of their 
volunteers, and about 2000 were discharged and sent home ; 
but as the accessions exceeded the desertions among the Insur- 
gents, Gov. Bowdoiu issued an order for 2600 more of the mili- 
tia to take the field. Aljout this time however, it was apparent 
that a decided reaction was taking place in favor of government 
was taking place in the central portion of the state, the inhabi- 
tants of the eastern portion had previously increased their pat- 
ronage in that direction, many of the towns that hitherto had 
encouraged opposition to the administration, and furnished their 



98 

quota for Shays' army, were now exerting an influence through 
their several committees to have that suppoi't withdrawn ; and 
many of the Insurgents were made to see and admit their error 
in resorting to arms, being quite ready to lay down their weap- 
ons, take the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth, and 
return to their homes wiser if not better citizens. Discourage- 
ment became so rife in Capt. Shays' camp that to obtain pardon 
for all, rank and file, was now the chief concern. After a few 
days of rest and reflection, Shays and his followers left Pelham 
on Saturday, Feb. od, arriving at Petersham the same night. 
This was the last march made by any considerable number of 
the Insurgents together, for as soon as intelligence reached Gen. 
Lincoln at Hadley that Capt. Shays had left East and AVest 
hills, orders were issued to have his men read}' at a moments 
warning to march in pursuit. Already the government Light 
Horse had been dashing close at the heels of the Regulators ; 
and at one time (nine o'clock in the forenoon) were within half 
a mile of their commander-in-chief, but he was not so easih' to 
be taken b}' surprise. They did however capture several sleigh 
loads — some L50 men. 

On the report being verified that Cui)t. Shays had left Pelham, 
Gen. Lincoln set his army in motion at <s o'clock on the evening 
of Feb. 3d, and by 2 o'clock in the morning had reached New 
Salem. After a very brief halt, the march was continued, the 
advance guard under Col. Haskell reaching Petersham about 9 
the morning of the 4th, covering a distance of 30 miles in 13 
hours, in the night time, over rough roads and during a very 
inclement season of the year — "an accomplishment," says Mr. 
Minot, "never before achieved in America." The same writer 
also says, "had the Insurgents turned upon the government 
troops at this time when they were so greatly fiitigued, the}- 
might have given them a severe check If not a total dffrat," 

But Capt. Shays made no effort to oi)pose Gen. Lincoln, and 
I find no evidence tliat he even contemplated an attack upon 
him at any time, much less at this period, when it seemed best 
to no longer contend even with the show offeree. As soon as 
the government troops reached Petersham, the insurgent army 
besan to disband and scatter to their several homes, only a 



99 

sufficient number of them holding together to safely escort Capt. 
Shays and other prominent leaders beyond the bounds of this 
Commonwealth. This they lost no time in doing, going directly 
to Athol on Sunday, passing through Warwick on Monday the 
oth, accompanied by about 100 men including Abraham Gale, 
who had been severely disabled b}- a kick from a horse. Eli 
Parsons went over to llubbardston before he left for Vermont. 

The Insurgents never again appeared in any considerable 
force, although little bands of them were now and then attract- 
ing attention in ditferent portions of the three western counties 
by arresting Loyalists, with the intention of holding them as 
hostages for some of their own men who had previousl}^ been 
apprehended and were now held by government. Some they 
paroled as prisoners of war not to take part ia favor of govern- 
ment against people who styled themselves "Regulators." 

Friday, Feb. 2d, news reached Gen. Warner, who was in 
command of the loyal troops at AVorcester, that a body of Reg- 
ulators were at New Braintree arresting people. He immediate- 
ly sent a detachment of about ISO men to capture them. They 
proceeded to the house of Moses Hamilton, a tavern keeper, 
where it was expected the Insurgents would be found ; but the 
news of their coming had preceded them, and the Insurgents 
had posted themselves behind a stone wall read}' to receive 
them, and as the party from Worcester came up, a few shots 
were leveled at them by men said to be under the leadership of 
Reuben Lamb of Oxford. Mr. Jonathan Rice, a deput}- sheriff, 
received a Itall through his arm, and another through his hand. 
His horse was also wounded, and David Young received a ball 
through liis knee. The Insurgents then fled towards Rutland, 
leaving at the house the proprietor and three men guarding Col. 
Samuel Flag and John vStanton, both of Worcester, who had 
been captured while attending to private business in Leicester 
the day previous, by a few men under the lead of Reuben Thayer 
of Uxbridge, of whom it was reported that he took the oath of 
allegiance Dec. 30th, 1786, but soon after went to Providence, 
R. I., purchased some powder and again joined the Insurgents. 

Capt. Shays and several of his associate officers were now 
beyond the reach of Gov. Bowdoin and his troops, and Feb. 4th, 



100 

I 

he offered the following rewards for their capture and return to 
the proper authorities : For Daniel Shays of Pelham, £150 ; for 
Luke Day of West Springfield, Adam Wheeler of Plubbardston, 
Eli Parsons of Adams, £100 each. Vigorous attention was also 
given to persons throughout the state who were b}' speech and 
actions inciting the people against the administration. 

Thursday, Jan, 25th, Col. Luke Drury of Grafton, on account 
of his inimical disposition to government, was escorted to Bos- 
ton and placed in prison. Mr. Drury was a representative to 
the General Court, and as Captain led the Grafton minute men 
to Concord and Lexington ; enlisted a company- April 24, 1775 ; 
received a commission and joined the forces at Cambridge ; was 
in the regiment of Col. Artemas Ward of Shrewsbury, and took 
part in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was often moderator at 
the public meetings of the town, and filled acceptably the offices 
of constable, deputj' sheriff', collector and selectman. Friday 
the 2Gth, Mr. Caleb Curtis of Charlton, was also taken to Bos- 
ton jail. Mr. Jonah Goulding had previously been incarcerated 
at Boston for stopping the courts in Worcester, and petitioned 
the General Court Feb. 7th, 1787, for a pardon. 

The most reckless and desperate of the Insurgents were now 
to be found in Hampshire and Berkshire counties, and General 
Lincoln turned his attention in that direction, after dismissing 
3 companies of artillerj- and ordering two regiments to Worces- 
ter. With the remainder of his army took up his march lor 
Pittsfield, passing through the towns of Amherst, Hadley, Ches- 
terfield, Partridgefield and Worthington, arriving at Pittsfield 
Feb. 12th. Just previous to this date, about 300 Pegulators 
under command of Major Wile}', concentrated about West 
Stockbridge and Lee to prevent the action of the courts at the 
latter place. Gen. Patterson led out the militia in that vicinity 
and confronted them. A compromise was effected, by which the 
Insurgents were to disperse, and thev would not be arrested or 
pursued by Patterson or his men, unless further ordered so to do 
by Gen. Lincoln. Unfortunately, however, as INIajor Wiley and 
his men started off", some of them discharged their muskets into 
the air, which was taken by the state troops as an attack, and 
they soon arrested about 50 of the Insurgents, a circumstance 







which lidded much to the feeling of resentment among the latter.* 
Immediately on the tirrivnl of Gen. Lincoln tmd his arm}^ at 
Fittsiield, he disi^atched Col. Tvler with a small force to the 
house of Major Wiley in the town of Dalton, with the hope of 
apprehending him. lie also sentCapt. Francis with a company 
of militia to Williamstown, hoping to lind Parsons and perhaps 
other chiefs who were supposed to be there. These expeditions 
were not entirely fruitless, although neither found the object of 
their search. Col. Tyler returned with six prisoners, one a son 
and aid to Major Wiley, a Mr. Chamberlin, second in command, 
and four others. Capt. Francis brought in nine prisoners, none 
of them prominent men. 

About this time Mr. John Wheeler, one of Shays' aids, Mr. 
Mathew Clark, and Dr. Whiting, judge of the court of Com- 
mon Pleas for Berkshire County, had been taken into custody. 
The same week an attempt was made to arrest Capt. Jason 
Parmenter, who with his associates were seeking refuge in the 
state of Vermont, across the line from Northfield. Mr. Whit- 
ney, a representative from that town, with j\Ir. Jacob Walker 
of AVhately, a member of the volunteer horse from Hampshire 
County, suddenly came upon Parmenter in the road. Walker 
fell, shot through the body, and died within half an hour. Par- 
menter lied to the woods where he was captured the next day 
by a party under Capt. Buffington. Feb. 21st closed the time 
for which the militia under C4en. Lincoln were engaged to serve 
in the field, and during the last week in February the greater 
part of his army passed through Worcester on their return home. 
The General remained in Berkshire County awaiting the arrival 
of the new quota of four months men raised to finish the contest. 
Several hundred Insurgents who had rendezvoused at a place 
called New Canaan, Columbia Co., New York, proposed to take 
advantage of this opportunity by making a raid into Berkshire 
County for the purpose of retaliation, not forgetting even the 
possil)ility of carrying off Gen. Lincoln himself should the op- 
portunity present itself, consequently about midnight, Monday 



Among these prisoners was Capt. Hubbart a man of considerable property. 



102 

the 26th, news reached Pittslield that the Rebels were in motion 
and that that place was the objective point. About eight o'clock 
the next morning 100 of them, under Capt. Hamlin, were at 
Stockbridge taking horses and sleighs, with such other articles 
as they stood in need of. They also held 20 of the most re- 
spectable inhabitants of the town as prisoners. Gen. Lincoln's 
force in Pittsfield was so small that he could otfer but little op- 
position to the onward march of the Insurgents ; but that eve- 
ning 50 men were sent out for the object of re-capturing the 
prisoners and property. On Wednesday the 28th, some 80 of 
the loyal people of Great Barrington under Capt. Ingersoll, and 
Sheffield under Lieut. Goodrich, joined forces under Col. John 
Ashley, and overtook the raiders in the town of Sheffield, where 
a little skirmish took place in which Mr. Gleason of Stockbridge 
and Mr. Porter of Great Barrington were killed, and three other 
militia men wounded. The raiders had two killed and five 
wounded ; among the latter was Capt. ILamlin. Gen. Patter- 
son with the militia arrived just in season to make the rout of 
the raiders complete, leaving in the hands of Col. Ashley about 
70 prisoners besides the men and property they had captured 
at Stockbridge 

March Sth the report came to headquarters that the spirit of 
opposition still raged in Berkshire and was far from being sub- 
dued, and that small parties were making prisoners of those 
who distinouished themselves as friends of government, and 
plundering their houses. The houses of Mr. Sedgwick and Mr. 
Edwards were robbed of property the week before ; but at this 
time Shays, Wheeler, Major Wiley, Captains Billings, Conkey, 
Cornell, and Hinds, Mr. Gray one of the Councillors, and Mr. 
Billings a brother of the Captain, also two other prominent in- 
surrectionists were quietly passing their time in the northwestern 
part of Vermont. 

Monday March oth. Daniel Baird of Worcester a selectman 
and late member of the county convention ; also Daniel Broad 
and George Marston of Pepperell, persons considered danger- 
ous to public safety were taken to Boston jail. Tlie jails in the 
counties of Worcester, ^lampshire and Berkshire had become so 
over crowded with occupants that February 26th, a resolve was 



103 

passed in the senate, that it was expedient to admit to bail such 
persons confined in these counties whose lilierty would not be 
considered dangerous to the public saletv ; that an}' two justices 
could act on recomuiendation or request ol' any general officer 
coninianding troops in either count}". 

Saturday' March 10th, the General Court appointed Hon. 
Samuel Phillips Jr. Esq., President of the Senate, Hon. Benja- 
min Lincoln Esq. and Samuel Allyne Otis Esq., Commissioners 
to proceetl to the 'W^estern counties for the purpose of granting 
pardons to persons concerned in the Rebellion who might apply 
for the same, other than the leaders, or such as had fired upon 
good citizens of this commonwealth or acted as a council of war. 

After the collision at Snffield, Gen. Lincoln despatched a 
messenger to the Governor of New York with the details of the 
engagement on the 'idth of February, as well as an account of 
the support and assistance the Insurgents were receiving at the 
hands of the inhabitants of his state. The matter was laid be- 
fore the legislature, and at the suggestion of that body, Gov. 
Clinton repaired at once to the scene of action, arriving at New 
Lebanon N, Y., Tuesday March Gth, where he was met b}' Gen. 
Lincoln ; and after the interview Gov. Clinton returned with 
Gen. Lincoln to Pittstield, passing Wednesday night at that 
place. Satisfactory arrangements were made to take care of 
the Lisurgents who hnd sought shelter in New York State ; and 
March 12th brought forth a proclamation from Gov. Clinton, 
offering the same rewards for the appreliension of the leaders as 
had been named by Gov. Bowdoin, and requesting his people 
not to aid the refugees. John Sullivan, governor of New 
Hampshire, issued a similar proclamation, as also did the Gov- 
ernors of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. 

Col. Newel with about oOO newly enlisted four months men 
from AYorcester County, arrived at Northampton at noon, 
Wednesday March 9th, on their way to Pittsfield. A sufficient 
number of new recruits had now arrived in the western part of 
the state to overawe and keep in check the reckless and discord- 
ant element. Ensign Stoddard who left Great Barrington 
March 21th, stated in Boston where he arrived on the 27th, that 
''Although the rebellion appears to be crushed in the western 



104 

part of the state, it will require the utmost wisdom and persever- 
ance of our rulers to restore peace to that distracted part of 
the Commonwealth." 

The courts were now free to act ; and the officers of the law 
were active in bringing offenders before the bar.* 

Major Samuel Cookson reported March 23d, that not less than 
700 families had removed to Vermontf within six weeks, from 
the three western counties of Massachusetts. So general was 
the depopulation that in some towns it was reported there were 
not left a sufficient number of inhabitants to fill the town offices. 
The feelino; of dissatisfaction was carried to such an extent that 
in several towns in the count}- of Berkshire, many of the ladies 
wore green feathers in their hats in place of the evergreen to 
show to which side they gave their sympathy. Even Noah 
Webster found it necessary in order to prevent his name from 
being catalogued among the Insurgents, to address a note (May 
8th, 1787,) from Philadelphia which appeared in public print, 
to show that certain rumors that he was an enemy to public faith 
were incorrect. 

Expressions like the following give some idea of the very 
critical condition in which the political affairs of the country 
stood: "It is now the general opinion that unless some wise 
plan should be proposed by the federal convention and adopted 
by the several states, our republican governments will speedily 
terminate : what will take their place heaven only knows." 



* 790 persons availed themselves of the privilege of the commission, 
t Vermont was admitted into the union March 4, 1791. 



105 

APPENDIX. 

I. 

As an illustnitioii of the excessive impost to wliich tlie people 
were subjected I have copied the following from the announce- 
ment of a sale of laud by government for the payment of taxes : 
Timothy Paine of Worcester assessed on 2714 acres of land in 
the town of ilerryfield, Hampshire County, 10 shillings per acre. 
State and Continental tax May 26, 1779, - - - £260 18s. 

" Oct. " - - 107 18s. 

Town tax and repairing highways April 15, 1779 - 22 12s. 
" " supplying Soldiers families Nov. 1779 - 58 12s. 

Total, £540. 

EBENEZER STOW, Constable of Merryfield. 
June 5, 1780. To be sold at Edward Wright's house, July 17, 1780. 

II, 

Captain Daniel Shays was born in the town of Ilopkinton, 
Mass., in the year 1747, and belonged to a poor famil}'. At the 
commencement of the Revolutionary war he was 23 j-ears of age 
and living on a farm in Brookfield, but at once enlisted in the 
cause of his country' ; was Ensign in Col. Woodbridge's Reg- 
iment at the battle of Bunker Hill. He afterward enlisted a 
company of men and succeeded to the rank of Captain, doing 
honorable service throughout the Revolution, and with other 
officers was in 1780, presented with an elegant sword b}- the 
marquis de La Fayette as a pledge of his aflection. Capt Shays 
was a man of undoubted courage and a good soldier. He was 
not prominent at the camraencement of the insurrection at which 
time he resided in Pelham, and was not desirous of becoming 
its leader, for he sent Luke Day and Eli Parsons to Col. Ethan 
Allen of Vermont with the earnest solicitation that he would 
take command of the insurgents; but on Col. Allen refusing 
to accept the command. Capt. Shays continued as its chief 
officer. But at Springfield during the colloquy with Gen. Wra. 
Shepard, when the latter addressed Capt. Sha3's as General, 
thus making him equal in rank. Shays resented it, telling Shep- 
ard that he should consider it as an affront if he continued call- 
ins- him Genernl. and should demand satisfaction. After the 



106 

failure of the insurrection Shays went to Vermont, where he 
remained about a year, and on his petition received full pardon 
and removed to Sparta, N. Y. where he died Sept. 29, 1825, a 
Revolutionary pensioner. 

III. 

NAMES OF MEN WHO SERVED AS CAPTAINS IN THE INSURRECTION. 

Daniel Luddington of Southampton was tried at Northamp- 
ton, convicted of high treason and sentenced to death during 
the second week's session of court ending April 21, 1778 ; par- 
doned and released Friday, May 5th. 

Artemas Dryden of Holden, surrendered to the sheriff of 
Worcester County, February 15th and was placed in Boston jail. 

John Wheeler of Hardwick, (aid to Shays) was tried at 
Northampton, convicted of high treason and sentenced to death 
during the two weeks session of court ending April 21, 1787; 
pardoned and released Friday, May 5th. 

Job Shattuck of Groton, was tried in May, 1787, at Concord, 
convicted of high treason, sentenced to death May 22d, and to be 
executed Thursday June 28, 1787. He was then reprieved to 
Aug. 2d, and before the arrival of that day a respite for seven 
weeks was granted him by the Governor. 

Bingham was placed in jail at Northampton May, 1787. 

Abraham Gale of Princeton, John Brown of Whately, Aaron 
Jewel of Chesterfield, Luke Day of West Springfield, Edward 
Kibby, Jones. Black, Hubbart, Billings,* Fisk.* 

IV. 

NAMES OF SOME OF THE MEN PROMINENT AND ACTIVE. 

James White of Colerain was tried at Northampton, convicted 
of hiffh treason and sentenced to death at the session of court 
ending April 21, 1787. Pardon received May 4th and liberated 
May 5 th. 

Alpheus Cotton of Long Meadow was tried at Northampton, 
convicted of high treason and sentenced to death at a term oi 



* Called captains. 



107 

court endino; April 11, 1787. Pardon received Ma^' 4th, and 
liberated tlie next day. 

Henry McCiilloek* of Pelham was tried at Northampton, con 
victed of hiii'ii treason and sentenced to death at a term of court 
ending April 21, 1787. His death warrant was received by the 
Sheriff May 4th, to be executed May 24 ; reprieved till June 
21 ; again reprieved to Aug, 2d. Before that time arrived the 
Governor granted him a respite for seven weeks. 

Jason Parmeuter* of Bernardston, who shot Mr. Walker was 
tried at Northampton, convicted and sentenced to death. The 
death warrant was received by the high sheriff of Hampshire 
County JMay 4th, to be executed May 24 ; reprieved until June 
21st, ; again reprieved to Aug 2nd. Before that day came an- 
other respite of seven weeks was granted. 

Smith of New Salem, late a Lieut, Colonel in the militia; 
Smith of Barre ; William Smith of Hampshire County ; Dr. 
Hinds of Pelham. 

J. Powers, R. Dickinson. J. Bardwell and J. Billings, signed 
letters to excite the people. 

Eli Parker, late representative from Amherst, pleaded guilty 
of seditious practices, in court at Northampton, April, 1787. 

Abner Fowler, late member of the convention and General 
Court from Southwick, pleaded guilty of seditious practices, at 
Northampton, April, 1787, and was sentenced to pay £50, be 
imprisoned 1 2 months and recognize to keep the peace 5 years. 

Joseph Jones, for tiring a pistol at a deputy sherirt' was sen- 
tenced to sit 1 hour on the gallows with a rope around his neck, 
pay £80 and furnish security to keep the peace and be of good 
behavior for 2 vears. 

Silas Hamilton Esq. of Whitingham Vt., was sentenced to 



* On Thursday June 21, 1787, these two men (Henry McCulloek and 
Jason Parmenter) who were confined at Northampton, were taken from the 
jail under a {ruard of 400 militia to the meeting house, where the Rev. Mo- 
ses Baldwin of Palmer delivered a discourse taking for his text Romans vi ; 
xxi., after which they were escorted to the gallows and the death warrants 
read limiting their time to 8 p. m. Coffins were in readiness, but they were 
not needed, for two minutes before that hour they were reprieved to Thurs- 
day, Aug. 2nd, and returned to jail. 



108 

stand 1 hour in pillory and to be publicly whipped on his naked 
back 20 stripes, for stirring up sedition in this Commonwealth. 

Abel Patridge was ordered to pay a fine of £100 to the use of 
the state, and recognize in £300 to keep the peace for 5 j-ears. 

John Severance was fined £30 and ordered to recognize in 
£100 to keep the peace for 3 3'ears. 

Thomas Killum was ordered to pay £20 and recognize in £50 
to keep the peace for three years. 

Samuel Rose was ordered to stand 1 hour in pillory and re- 
ceive 20 stripes on his naked back. 

Thomas Gould Esq. was arrested, tried, convicted and sen- 
tenced to pay £50 and recognize for good behavior for 3 years. 

Samuel Slocura was prominent at conventions and was mod- 
erator at the convention in Rutland, Jan., 1787. 

Gideon Dunham and George Baker were arrested in Vt. July, 
1787, and placed in jail at Northampton but escaped Aug. 22d. 

Lieut. Isaac Bullard was jailed at Northampton in Ma\-, 1787. 

Jenkins and Davis of West Stockl)ridge were captured but 
escaped. 

Robert Jo3'ner was put in jail at Great Barrington. 

Lieut Rufus Tyler, Lieut. Joseph Babcock, Samuel Booth, 
Samuel Clark Nathan Mower, Simeon Ilazletine of Hardwick, 
Billings of Amherst, and Serg't John Williams, were en- 
gaged in enlisting men for Shays' ami}'. 

Esq. Perry of Eastown, was apprehended on a seditions visit 
to Egremont. 

Ebenezer Tolman and Ethan Billings of Conway, Hampshire 
County ; Eli Parsons, Jacob Fox, Perez Hamlin, Ebenezer Cut- 
tender and Elisha Manning of Berkshire Comity. Col. Hazelton, 
Nathan Smith, Daniel Gray, Dr. Samuel WilUii'd, Hezekiah 
Chapman, Elijah Day, Thomas Grover. Lieutenants Henry and 
Baldwin, and Ware. Dr. Elisha Forbes of Norwich. 

Mr Bruce's house in Leicester was a resort for the Insurgents. 

Jonah Goulding of Ward, was taken to Boston jail for stop- 
ping the courts at Worcester in Dec, 1 78(>. He petitioned the 
General Court for pardon Feb. 7, 1787, and was released on 
bail March 23d. 

Col. Luke Drnry of Grafton was sent to jail in Boston January- 
2G, 178(1. Caleb Curtis was arrested and confined in jail. 



10!) 



Adam Wheeler of Iliibbardston was a constable previous to 
the insurrection and a prominent man of that town. He was 
captured in Vermont l)v a party of government men under Royal 
Tyler Escj., l)ut tliev were onl^- able to hold him 4 hours when 
he was liberated I)}' a i)art3' of 40 sympathizers from over the 
line in the state of New York. 

Daniel Baird of Worcester was sent to jail at Boston, but he 
was released on bail March 23, 1787. 

W^illiam Berais of Spencer, petitioned for pardon Oct. 28, 
178G. He was Capt. in the militia and an honored citizen. 

Justus Wright was arrested and confined in jail. 

Capt. Moses Harvey of Montague, a member of the General 
Court, was tried at Northampton in April, 1787, and convicted 
for uttering seditious words. He w-as sentenced to sit on the 
gallows 1 hour with a rope around his neck and pay ^50 to the 
state and recognize to keep the peace for 5 years. On Fridaj', 
April 30, the legislature voted to expel him. 

Hezekiah Hicks was jailed at Taunton March 26th, 1787, 

Enoch Tyler of Egremont with two other insurgents, w'ere 
jailed at Albany N. Y. the latter part of JNIay, 1787. This was 
probably his second offence. 

V. 

NAMES OF PERSONS CONVICTED BY THE SUPKEME JUDICIAL COURT 
FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY AVHICII CLOSED ITS SESSION IN APRIL, 1787. 

William Whiting P^sq. of Great Barrington, Chief Justipe of 
the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Berkshire, was 
convicted of making seditious speeches and sentenced to six 
months imprisonment, fined ^{^100, and ordered to give sureties 

to keep the peace .'; years. 

Aaron Knapp of West Stoekbridge, Enoch Tyler of Egre- 
mont, Joseph Williams of New Marlboro, Nathaniel Austin *of 
Sheflield, Peter Wilcox Jr.* of Lee, and Samuel Rust of Pitts- 
field, were convicted of high treason and sentenced to death. 



* On Friday night, at Great Barrington, as the time was approaching for 
the execution of these two men, (Wilcox and Austin) two women armed 



110 

Knapp, Tyler, Williams and Rust were pardoned May 4th, 
Austin and Wilcox were reprieved May 24th to June 21st, and 
before that day arrived they were again reprieved to Thursday, 
Aug. 2d. 

John Hubbard, David Sackett, John Deming, Peleg Green, 
Oliver Root, Enos Haskins, and John fStrong were convicted of 
exciting sedition. Isaac Wood, Aaron Noble, Moses Wood, 
AVilliam Sheldon and Anthony Ames were convicted of inciting 
a riot, and Joseph Wood for setting fire to a barn. 100 more 
were convicted but fled be3-ond the reach of the officials. 

VI. 

Tuesday April 25th, the Supreme Judicial Court convened at 
Worcester and was in session two weeks. James Sullivan, 
Thomas Dawes and Levi Lincoln were assigned as counsel for 
the prisoners. Henry Gale of Princeton, was convicted of high 
treason and sentenced to death, Jan. 11th, 1787. The town of 
Princeton joined in a petition for his pardon. Thursday, June 
21st he was taken to the gallows on the common and there re- 
prieved to Aug. 2d, and again a respite of 7 weeks was granted. 
Silas Livermore of Paxton, and Jacob Chamberlin of Dudley, 
indicted for high treason, were acquitted. 

It will be seen from the above proceedings that fourteen per- 
sons were convicted of high treason and sentenced to death. 
Eight of them were granted full pardon within a very short time 
after conviction, while the remaining six were reprieved from 
time to time for a few months, and then they are also jiardoned ; 
so that the most prominent among the insurrectionists were not 
punished beyond a short imprisonment, and soon after their 
release, were found occupying responsible positions of honor 
and trust in the several communities where they resided, show- 
ing conclusiveh" that the public sentiinent was not to brand them 
as traitors, but to allow respect for honest difference of opinion. 



with a bottle of spirits introduced themselves to the sentry Avho stood guard 
over the prisoners. He not being above the average of the human family in 
intellect, was soon brought under the control of these cunning artihcers, 
who succeeded in accomplisliing the object of their visit, the setting at 
liberty of the two condemned men. As soon as their escape was made 
known, the sentry with one of the women who had been arrested, were im- 
prisoned in the same jail. 



II. 



VII. 

CN'Dte to page 70.] 

In November, I7S6, His Excellency, Gov. Bowdoin, informed the General 
Court that letters had been sent to the selectmen of several towns in Hamp- 
shire County, asking them to call together the inhabitants of their several 
towns, and see that they were properly supplied with arms and amunition, 
and organized according to law ; and that the militia be furnished with 60 
rounds of cartridges, and hold themselves ready to march at a moments 
warning. This communication was reported to a committee of the house 
who soon presented a report containing the following recommendations : 

1. A suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus. 2. A provision for try- 
ing traitors in any county. 3. A pardon for all persons concerned in the 
late insurrections, excepting the ringleaders, upon their taking the oath of 
allegiance and abjuration. The house at once took up the subject with the 
result that a general indemnity shall be granted to all the insurgents upon 
their taking the oath of allegiance previous to the first day of January next 
and not persevering in the crime after the passing of the act then under 
consideration ; and that the suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus and 
trying persons on charge of high treason should take place under the same 
condition. Bills to this effect were read for the third time and passed to 
be engrossed ; and the bill for suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus 
passed both branches of the legislature. 






im 



112 

The reading of the paper was followed by remarks 
from the Rev. George Allen, and Messrs. Tolman 
and Knight. The meeting was then adjourned. 



In response to an invitation extended to the Wor- 
cester Society of Antiquity by Mr. George Sumner, 
to visit his summer home ot Shrewsbury, a party of 
about thirty gentlemen* left the Rooms on Foster 
street, at half past one on the afternoon of Wednes- 
day, August 10th. The conveyance was a large 
six-horse omnibus, and the ride occupied about an 
hour. The company received a warm welcome from 
Mr. and Mrs. Sumner and their family, and an hour 
was spent in exploring the old mansion and viewing 
the antique treasures it contains. The house, which 
has been in the possession of the family for four gen- 
erations, was the home of the Rev. Joseph Sumner, 
D. D., Minister of the town from 17G2 to 1823. 



* The following gentlemen composed the party: Ellery B. Crane, Albert 
Tolman, Henry L. Shumway, James A. Smith, Dr. George Chandler, Clark 
Jillson, William A. Smith, A. B. R. Sprague, Samuel E, Staples, Franklin 
P. Rice. Hammond W. Hubbard, Addison Prentiss, Norton L. Cook, Aug. 
E. Peck Augustus Coolidge, Nelson R. Scott, Pardon A. Lee, Ephraini 
Tucker, Daniel'Seagravc, Thomas M. I.amb, James L. Esty, Franklin C. 
Jillson, and E. Francis Thompson. The above are members of the Society. 
Also by invitation, John G. Smith, Samuel H. Putnam, Alfred Waites. 
Herbert R. Cummings and Master Everett Shumway. 

The following gentlemen joined the party at Shrewsbury : George Sum- 
ner, Reuben Colton, and William L. Clark, Members ; and the Rev. George 
Allen, Otis A, Putnam, and William D. Clark. Messrs. Brown, Harlow, 
Howe, Stone, and Dr. Brigham all of Shrewsbury were also present at the 
Sumner House. 



2 2. an 



a 



So' 5' ^ 3 

B = °0 
*r, p ^ 

bHch: 

_ to 3 o 

•o e: p S 

o -2_"' 



a) 



fc 



O 2, 



jOl 



O O - P 
— >3 P 3 



Q 



* O* CO 

P r- -i 



ft! _ " 

c ^= n> 

3 Wo a 

3 3 3 2, 
..^ o 

"^ P O Q 

O ^^ — :n 

O o V! S 

C S-r« P 



(t 



-->n 



— '.3 2. 

_x '^ 5 

? o <; -0 

^ "2. " -* 

fc 3 =, -^ 
fc S 2 =" 

s 1 :3 2. 

- _. ;^ P 

a ^ c -^ 

till 

* ^ ^ "^ 

w ^"^ 

032 

^ rj) 1:0 
P 51 O 

•^ ° '2! 

o o — 

1 2"^ 

00 i* •a 
C(R 3. 

3 ° O 

3=; = 



w 

SB 




113 

The old furniture, crockery and household imple- 
ments used in his family, as well as his library, fam- 
ily portraits, relics, etc., have been carefully pre- 
served by his grandson, the present proprietor, who 
has added from time to time, many rare and curious 
articles, until a collection has been formed unrival- 
ed in these parts in size and value. Rare old tables, 
sideboards, and chests of drawers in mahogany and 
cherry, antique chairs in angular frames or in mas- 
sive stuffing, beds with drapery and curtains, the 
old clock, large and small spinning wheels, the clock 
reel, the quill-wheel, the open fireplace with and- 
irons, presented to the eye a picture of by-gone days. 
In the kitchen was the dresser piled with pewter 
plate, while tankards, beakers, ancient knives and 
forks, candlesticks, tinder box, piggin, skillet, and 
other minor articles of culinary use made up the 
accompaniment. The crane in the fireplace, the 
bare lloor, the settle and the candle molds, were 
suiJ-grestive of the discomforts and inconveniences of 
a past generation, and in striking 'contrast with the 
methods and manners of the present. Upon the 
walls of the '^'keeping room" are the portraits, in oil, 
of the Rev. Dr. Sumner and members of his family, 
with other ancient paintings and prints of the style 
of the last century. The title deeds of the place 
dating back to 1750 were exhibited framed under 
glass. In the library, among other rare books, is a 
copy of a ^'Confession of Faith" in the Indian lan- 
guage, compiled by Grindal Rawson. The place 



114 

will well repay the visit of the antiquary, and would 
furnish ample material for an illustrated magazine 

article. 

From the house the party proceeded to the famous 
Balanced Rock, about a mile and a half from the 
town, on the road to Boylston. It is an immense 
boulder — an irregular cube of perhaps 25 by 15 feet, 
resting on one of its angles on the surface of a Hat 
ledge on the crest of a hill. It is very curious, and 
suggests an idea of the prodigious glacial forces 
which probably drifted it to its present position and 
dropped it gently and evenly- balanced. Beneath 
the boulder, upon the surface of the ledge, the strice 
or glacial markings can be plainly seen, the over- 
hanging mass having sheltered them from the action 
of the elements. At the request of the Rev. George 
A.llen, who accompanied the party thither, and 
whose enthusiasm equalled that of the youngest, the 
president measured the height and breadth of the 
rock. Mr. Samuel H. Putnam ascended to its sum- 
mit, and a sketch was made from a convenient point 
by Mr. Norton L. Cook.* 

Returning to the village, some time was spent in 
exploring the ancient portion of the cemetery, and 
deciphering the quaint inscriptions, the oldest found 
being of 1740. The massive tomb of Gen. Artemas 
Ward of Revolutionary fame was also an object of 



* The illustrations which accompany this account are from sketches made 
later, bv Mr. William A. Emerson. 



115 

interest.* The old church was then visited, but it 
has been modernized to an extent that destroys its 
antiquarian interest. Its pulpit was occupied by 
the Rev. Dr. Sumner and later by the Rev. George 
Allen. A number of the party ascended to the bell- 
deck where an extensive view was obtained, embra- 
cing more than a score of towns, from the heights 
of Dorchester to the hills of Westminster. It is a 
fact not generallj^ known that Shrewsbury and 
Princeton are on the same level above tide water, 
and the view from the former does not lose in com- 
parison with the latter. The day was an admirable 
one, and the party was amply repaid for the trouble 
of climbing the narrow stairs. 



* The following are the inscriptions on the Ward monument : 

EAST SIIJE. 

SARAH, wife of Gen. Artemas Ward, Dec. 13, 1788 je 63. 
.^laj. Gen. ARTEMAS WARD. Sou of Col. N. Ward H. U. 1748-1762, 
a Justice & 1776 Chief Justice of the C. C. Pleas For the Co. of Wor, 1778, 
a Major in the expedition against Canada 1751). appointed Col. 1766. his 
Commission as Col revoked for his inflexible opposition to arbitrary power, 
whereupon he informed the Royal Gov. that he had been twice honored — 
1768 chosen one of the executive Council and by the same Royal Gov. and 
for the same reason negatived and deprived of a seat at that Board — 1775 
appointed to the command of the army at Cambridge and by the Continen- 
tal Congress first Maj. Gen. of the army of the revolution. 1779 appointed 
a member of the Continental Congress, and under the Federal Government 
repeatedly elected a member. — 16 years a Representative of this town in the 
Legislature & in 1786, Speaker of the house of Representatives. Firmness 
of mind & integrity of purpose were characteristic of his whole life so that 
he was never swayed by the applause or censure of man but ever acted un- 
der a deep sense of duty to his Country & accountability to his God — long 
will his memory be preserved among the friends of liberty & religion. 

Oct. 27, 1800. X 73. 



116 

Returning to the Sumner Mansion, they were met 
by Dr. Brigham, who in honor of the guests had 
come in an ancient narrow gig-chaise, painted bright 
yellow, and unlike Dr. Holmes' "one boss shay," 
built to withstand the ravages of time for genera- 
tions yet to come. This vehicle was used by Sher- 
iff Thomas W. Ward,* in his official journeys. Dr. 
Brio-ham also brought the medicine chest of his 



Capt. NAHUM W' AllI) son of Gen. Ward, March 7, 1778, in the army, m 24. 
MAllTIIA daughter of Gen. Ward July 25 1781, je 21. 

SOUTH SIDE, 

^VARD. Deacon AVILLIAM WARD, from England, Marlboro, Aug. 10, 
1G87, M. 87. Col. NAHUM WARD, son of Capt. W. Ward, May 7, 1754, 
X. 70. Capt. WILLIAM WARD, son of Dea. W^ird, Marlboro, Nov. 25, 
1G97, JE. 57. BENJAMIN, son of Col. Nahum & Martha Ward, April 22, 
1717, JE. 12 mos. First Death in town. MARTHA, Relict of Col. Nahum 
Ward, July 1, 1755, je. 68, MARTHA, daughter of Col. Nahum & JMartha 
Ward, July 2, 1794. je, 78. 

■WEST SIDE. 

CHARLES G, WARD, son of T. W. & II. P. W. Adj't. 24 Reg. Mass. vol. 
killed in Battle at Drury's Bluff, Va. May 10, 18G4, je. 34. HARRIET P. 
wife of Thomas W. Ward, Miir. 25, 187G, je. 75 yrs. ARTEMAS, son of 
Thomas W. & Harriet P. ^^■ard, Oct. 28, 1833, je. 5 vs. 

NOKTH SIDE, 

ARTEMAS WARD, son of Thomas W. & Elizabeth Ward Dec. 31. 1816, 
^.26, JOSEPH WARD, son of Thomas W. & Elizabeth Ward, Oct 2, 
1821, JE. 32. THOMAS WALTER WARD Esq., 18 years High Sheriff 
of this Co., Aug. 20, 1835. je. 77. A. H. WARD son of T. W. & E. Ward, 
Feb. 18, 1864, je. 79. NAHUM AVARD, son of T. W. & E. Ward April 
6, 1860, JE. 74. HARRIET V^ILLIAMS, wife of A\"illiam Williams, & 
daughter of Thomas W. & Elizabeth Ward, Nov. 13, 1824 je. 37. JOHN 
TUCKER, son of A. H. & S. H. Ward, died in Boston, Nov. 2, 1840, je. 
24, 5 mos. ELIZABETH, Relict of T. W. Ward Esq., Nov, 18, 184G je. 87. 
ELIZA MARIA ANTOINETTE. Oct. 26, 1821, je. 3 yrs 8 mos. & 8 ds. 
FRANCES CAROLINE AUGUSTA, 23 Oct. 1824, je, 18 mos. & 20 ds., 
daughters of Andrew H. & Sarah II. Ward. 



* Thomas Walter Ward was son of Gen. Artemas Ward. He was sheriff 
of Worcester Countv from 1805 to 1824. 




WAItl) MOIvUME.NT, SIIKEWSBUllY, MASS. 



117 

father who was for many years a physician in 
Shrewsbury. Its contents were inspected with in- 
terest. 

At the close of the afternoon a generous colhition 
was served, the divine blessing being invoked by the 
Kev. George xillen. Several citizens of Shrewsbury 
joined the party in the evening which was passed 
with music and pleasant conversation until eight 
o'clock, when the company returned to the city ar- 
riving about nine, with the memory of an agreeable 
and profitable experience, which will be a lasting 
one. 



The September meeting was held on the evening 
of Tuesday the Gth, President Crane in the chair. 

The following persons were present: Messrs. 
Crane, Roe, Paine, E. H. Marble, Tucker, F. P. Rice 
Stone, Clark Jillson, B. J. Dodge, Cook, Dickinson, 
Estey, Staples, ; and by invitation, Mr. John G. Smith, 
Albert H. Hoyt, Esq., of Cincinnati, and J. A. Mc- 
Clellen, LL. D., of Toronto, Government inpector of 
High and Normal Schools for the Province of Onta- 
rio, Canada — 16. 

Edward B. Glasgow was elected an active member. 

The President alluded to the recent visit of the 
Society to Shrewsbury, and the Hon. Clark Jillson 
ofiered the following preamble and resolution, which 
were unanimously adopted : 



118 

Whereas, On the lOth day of August, 1881, hy special invita- 
tion Irom George Sumner Esq., The Worcester Society of An- 
tiquity visited his ancient and uniquely furnished mansion in the 
town of Shrewsbur}-, where the members enjoyed an afternoon 
of rural delight, paying their respects to several points of his- 
toric interest as well as natural curiosit}', among which may be 
mentioned the burial place of Major Gen. Artemas Ward, and 
Equipoise Rock ; being accompanied thither by their venerable 
friend, the Rev. George Allen, who visited on that da}', perhaps 
for the last time, the scene of his earh- labors in the christian 
ministry nearly three score 3-ears ago, therefore, 
^Resolved, That a vote of thanks be, and the same hereby are 
tendered Mr. and Mrs. Sumner, for their generous invitation, 
their liberal entertainment, and all their etlbrts to make the 
occasion worthy of continued remembrance. 

A donation of two specimens of early wood en- 
graving was received from C. J. Sawtell Esq., of 
New York city, through Mr. S. E. Staples. They 
were the work of Hans Leonard Sciraull'elin, a pupil 
of Albert Durer. A vote of thajiks was tendered 
for the same. 

A portrait in oil of Elihu Burritt, late an honor- 
ary member of the Society, was presented in behalf 
of several members, by Mr. S. E. Staples, mainly 
through whose eflbrts it was secured. This portrait 
was painted in 1841, and is considered a good like- 
ness, 

Mr. Alfred S. Roe was then called upon, and gave 
a very interesting and graphic account'"'' of a visit he 



* Since published in the Cincinnati Enquirer, and reprinted in the Bos- 
ton Sunday Herald. New York Sun and other papers. 



119 

made on the 4tli of July last, in company with Mr. 
Samuel H. Putnam of this cit}-, to the Wolf Den, 
made f\imous by the exploit of Gen. Israel Putnam. 
They also visited the house in which he lived and 
his burial place at Brooklyn. Brief remarks fol- 
lowed by Messrs. Tucker and E. H. Marble. 

Dr. McClellan of Toronto was introduced, and 
responded by interesting remarks in an appropriate 
and happy manner. 

The President announced in suitable and becom- 
ing terms, the death of Samuel Foster Haven, LL. D., 
forty years Librarian of the American Antiquarian 
Society ; and on motion of Mr. B. J. Dodge, a com- 
mittee of three was appointed to draft suitable reso- 
lutions to be reported at the next meeting. Messrs. 
Dodge, Clark Jillson and Roe were appointed. 

The meeting was then adjourned. 



The October meeting was held on the evening of 
Tuesday the 4th. The following persons were pres- 
ent: Messrs. Staples, Tucker, C. Jillson, Lawrence, 
Dodge, Hugg, Paine, Metcalf, Stone, Warren, Estey, 
Hubbard, H. M. Smith, Shumway, Seagrave, Lovell, 
C. R. Johnson, J. A. Smith, F. C. Jillson, Rice, and 
three visitors — 2o. 

Mr. B. J. Dodge from the committee appointed 
at the last meeting presented the following resolu- 
tions, which were unanimously adopted, and on mo- 
tion of Mr. Nathaniel Paine were ordered to be 
transmitted to the widow of the late Dr. Haven. 



120 

The committee to whom was referred the duty of framing 
resohitions on the death of Dr. Haven, respectfully offer the 
following : 

Resolved, That The Worcester Society of Antiquity, with a 
deep sense of bereavement, take formal notice of the removal 
by death, which occurred on the 5th of September last, at his 
home in this city, of Samuel Foster Haven, LL. D., at the age 
of seventy-five years three months and eight days. 

Resolved, That Dr. Haven, -through the whole of the long 
period of forty-three years which marked his term of service as 
librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, has furnished to 
us an example of patient study, accurate perception and ready 
sympathy, which gave him remarkable power to perform, and 
which is fully exhibited in the growth add prosperity of the 
Society which he served. 

Resolved, That we regard Dr. Haven as a conscientious and 
accurate historian, as witnessed by the valuable historical arti- 
cles which have from time to time emanated from his graceful 
pen. 

Resolved, That we shall miss his genial manners, his happy 
faculty of speech, and his always ready and kindly response to 
the demands of those of us who have enjoyed his acquaintance, 
and also have had occasion to consult with him upon historical 
or other matters, in which he was the leader of us all. 

Resolved, That to his more immediate personal friends, and 
the circle of his own family we tenderlj' express our sympathy 
and deep sense of their bereavement. 

Alfred Waites was elected an active member. 

A letter from Dr. George W. Brown of Rockford, 
111. was read and a proper reply was ordered. A 
copy of his pamphlet relating to John Brown, of 
Kansas fame, accompanied the letter. 

Remarks upon the death of president Garfield 
were made by C. R. Johnson, H. M. Smith and J. 
L. Estey. 



121 

Mr. H. M. Smith in behalf of the Washburn and 
Moen Manufacturing Company, presented a set of 
their publications relative to the manufacture of 
Barb Fence, Telegraph and other wire. 

Mr. I. N. Metcalf presented copies of programmes 
of the recent Musical Festival in Worcester. 

The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. S. E. 
Staples for his efibrts in securing the portrait of 
Elihu Burritt, presented to the Society at the last 
meeting. 

Mr. A. S. Roe extended to the members an invi- 
tation to be present on the occasion of the presen- 
tation of the portrait of John Adams to the High 
School, to take place on the 19th of October, in the 
hall of the high school building. Adjourned. 



At the regular monthly meeting held Tuesday 
evening, Nov. 1st, twenty persons were present, 
namely ; Messrs. Crane, Roe, Rice, Sumner, Harlow, 
C. Jillson, Manning Leonard of Southbridge, Rugg, 
Prentiss, J. A. Smith, Stone, Cook, Lee, Lawrence, 
B. J. Dodge, Waites, Staples and Knight, members ; 
and Mr. George Estey and Master Lawrence visitors. 
Mr. Staples was chosen Secretary pro tem. 

The following letter from Mrs. Frances W. Haven 
in acknowledgment of the resolutions adopted by 
this Society upon the death of Dr. Samuel F. Haven, 
was read : 



122 

62 Elm st., Oct. 18th, 1881. 

Henry L. Shumway Esq., Secretary of The Worcester Society 
of Antiquity, 

Sir, Please accept my acknowledgments for a copj' of the 
Resolutions adopted at a meeting of The Worcester Society of 
Antiquity, Oct. 4th, 1881, in relation to my lamented husband. 

I sincerely thank tlie members of the Society for these kind 
expressions of appreciation of him, and of sympathy with his 
bereaved family. 

Mr. Haven felt a cordial interest in the work of the Society 
of Antiquity, and wished for it abundant prosperity and useful- 
ness. 

Very respectfully yours, 

FRANCES W. HAVEN. 

A letter from W. II. Bigelow of New Haven, Ct. 
transmitting a biographical sketch of himself was 
read. Abraham K. Gould was elected an active 
member. 

The President gave an interesting account of the 
recent Crane family reunion in New York city, and 
of an excursion up the Hudson river to Alban}'. 

Mr. Roe presented a collection of the leading 
newspapers from nearly every state and territory in 
the union, containing notices upon the death of 
President Garfield, from which he read extracts 
interspersed with appropriate and intei'esting re- 
marks. Manning Leonard Esq., of Southbridge, a 
life member, made remarks expressing his interest 
in the work of the Society. It was then voted to 
adjourn. 



123 

The Annual Meeting was held on the evening of 
Tuesday, Dec. Gtli. The following members were 
present : Messrs. Crane, C. Jillson, Shumway, Estey, 
Sprague, Tucker, Lovell, Dodge, Potter, Tolman, 
Phelps, Stone, Dickinson, F. C. Jillson, Marshall, 
Gould, C. R. Johnson, Lawrence, Cook, J. A. Smith, 
W. H. Bartlett, Paine, Sumner, O'Flynn, F. P. Rice, 
H. M. Smith ; and by invitation Mr. Joseph Lovell. 

Albert Curtis Esq. was elected an honorary mem- 
ber; Charles H. J. Douglas of Providence, R. I., a 
corresponding member, and Sullivan Forehand an 
active member. 

The Treasurer presented his annual report as 
follows : 

TREASURER'S REPORT. 

To the Officers and Members of 

The Worcestei- Society of Antiquity^ 
Gcnllcmeii: — Agreeable to the requirements of the by-laws of 
this Societ}', I herewith submit this my sixth Annual Report, 
showing the receipts and expenditures of the Society, from Dec. 
7th, 1880, to Jan. 3rd, 1882, as follows:— 



Cash Received. 
1881. Dr. 

Assessments, . . . $176,00 
Admissions, . . . 18,00 

Donation, 3,00 

Sale of Proceedings, . . 5,18 
Life membership, . 50,00 
Terap'y loan of Treas., 237,95 

$490,13 



Cash Paid. 
1881. Cr. 

Rent, $211,25 

Gas, 7,45 

Stationery & Printing, 89,35 
Express & Postage, . 23,32 
Cleaning & rep'g rooms, 14,81 
Loan of Treas., 1880, 143,95 

$490,13 



There are accounts to the amount of $170 due the Treasurer 
at this date, all of which is respectfully submitted, 

JAMES A. SMITH, Treasurer. 



-^ 



124 

Mr. Albert A. Lovell, the Librarian, presented his 
report for the year 1881, accompanied by an inter- 
esting sketch of Ezra Beaman. 

LIBRAKIAN'S REPORT. 



To the Officers and Memhers of 

The Worcester Societt/ of Aiitiqidty. 

Your Librarian respectfully presents the following Report for 
the year 1881 : 

SINCE the last report the Societ}- has issued the following 
publications: No. XI. and XII., Records of the Proprietors 
of Worcester, Massachusetts, Parts III. and IV. No. XIII, 
Proceedings of The Worcester Society of Antiquity for the year 
1880. No. XIV. Worcester Town Records, 1753-1765. The 
following are now in press and will soon be issued : Nos. XV. 
and XVI., Worcester Town Records comprising the Revolu- 
tionary period, and No. XVII., Proceedings of The Worcester 
Society of AntiquitA- for the year 1881. Two sets of the Col- 
lections of the Society have been suitably bound for the library. 
In binding the several publications the first thirteen numbers 
form three volumes of Collections, and Nos. XIV.. XV., and 
XVI., are designed to form the fourth volume. It ma}- be well 
to suggest to members and others who have not had their publi- 
cations bound, that it is desirable that this order be followed so 
as to preserve uniformity. Within the past year our library 
accommodations have been improved by an additional room for 
our increasing collections. The Catalogue of the library beo-un 
some time ago will be completed before the next monthly meet- 
ing. There have been received during the year as contributions 
to the library 1G5 bound volumes, G57 pamplilets, 26 miscella- 
neous articles. 

I desire to call attention to a gift from individual members of 
the Society, of a framed oil portrait of Elihu Burritt. a deceased 



125 

honorary member; to Mass. Colon}- Records, from Geo. Sum- 
ner ; to the Arm}' Chest and papers of Company A, 2r)tli Regt. 
Mass. vols, from 8. H. Putnam ; to a set of the American Al- 
manac, bound, from Clarendon Harris Esq., and also, to a list 
of donations accomi)an3ing this report. 

The interest which has been developed in tliis Society b}- a 
recent visit to Shrewsbury, renders whatever pertains to that 
town, so rich in historic material, appropriate in this report. 
Shrewsbury, staunch and true to every cause which tends to the 
advancement of religion, liberty and law, is and always has been 
a representative New England community, solid and substantial 
as the hills on which she rests. While she holds in grateful 
remembrance the name of Ward, the first commander of our 
infant army in the war of the Revolution ; of Sumner, the beloved 
pastor who led his flock by the still waters of happiness and 
peace; of Cushing, the military leader in the struggle for free- 
dom ; she is not unmindful of the services of Ezra Beaman, the 
patriot and the man of enterprising public spirit, ever ready to 
defend the colonies from the encroachments of arbitrary- power, 
and to do whatever tended to the advancement, of the material 
prosperit}- of the community in which he lived. It seems proper 
that the history of this man should be presented in connection 
with whatever pertains to the history of Shrewsbur}-, for, al- 
though his abode through nearly his whole life was in one locali- 
t}', he lived in three separate townships, the division and re-divis- 
ion of the territorv which orisinallv fell to the lot of Shrewsbury 
rendering such the case. His v. hole life except the first ten 
years, was connected with this town or territory set off from the 
original grant. I have deemed it best at this time to present 
briefly some facts concerning Major Beaman, who was an active 
and leading man in the immediate vicinity where he resided, and 
who sustained and exercised an extensive and controlling influ- 
ence in the community at large. It is in the lives of the leading 
spirits of these early days that we must look to find the spring 
that watered and nourished feeble settlements until they had 
struck their roots into deeper and stronger soil, and had attain- 
ed such a growth, and were so firmly established in the principles 



126 

of self-government that the summer heat of political agitation, 
and the winter blast of infidelity, communism and private am- 
bition pass harmlessly by and leave no trace behind. 

It is not my intention to lay before you a full and complete 
survey of the life and services of P2zra Beaman, but to pass 
them in hasty review and make this report in some degree doc- 
umentary. 

^MZRA. beaman was born in Bolt(m, Mass. ,October 16,1736. 
He was the son of Jabez Beaman, who having purchased 
^i^ a large tract of land in the westerly part of the town of 
Shrewsbury, situated on both sides of the Nashua River, 
including some of the most fertile in that region, removed thence 
with his family in 1746. Jabez Beaman dying in 1757, the 
homestead came under the proprietorship of Ezra the eldest son 
where he resided until his death. In 1758 he married Persis, 
daughter of Cyprian Keyes, with whom he lived thirty years. 
She died November 7th, 1788, at the age of 50 years. By this 
marriage he had six children. He afterwards married Mar}-, 
daughter of Richard Boylston of Charlestown, wlio survived liim. 

It was a characteristic of Major Beaman that he was constitu- 
ted with an active and vigorous mind, combined with wonderful 
energy, decision, firmness and perseverance. Thus constituted 
he was constantly engaged in projects both of a public and pri- 
vate nature which accrued to his own emolument and to great 
and essential advantage to the whole community. His judg- 
ment was almost unerring, and his designs general!}- resulted in 
accordance with his expectations and desires. Such was the 
confidence reposed in him, and in such high estimation was he 
held by the people not only of his own town but of a large sur- 
rounding section, that whenever any project of a public nature 
bearing upon the well being of the people at large was to be 
considered, he was at once consulted and generally in accord- 
ance with his expressed opinion either for or against, was the 
scheme adopted or rejected. 

In 1704 he erected a dwelling house on the tract purcliased 
by his father which he occupied until liis death, and which his 
son bearing the same name continued to occup}' for half a cen- 
tury later. ■ 



127 

This house in the thoroughness of its construction, its size 
and its architectural proportions, was probably unsurpassed by 
anything of its kind in the county. This was known as the 
Beaman Tavern, and for a century was a t^-pical Way-side Inn ; 
and fiom it went out an influence which was felt not only in its 
immediate vicinity but throughout a large extent of country. 

The tavern of one hundred years ago, and even up to the time 
when the railroad superceded the stage and the team as a means 
of transportation for passengers and merchandise, especially 
when its proprietor was a person of prominence and force, was 
a power in the communit}-. During the da3s of the Revolution 
the tavern was the resort of tories or patriots according to the 
political proclivities of the landlord, and here were schemes de- 
vised, either for or against the patriot cause according to the 
political character which it assumed. It was at the tavern where 
the people most frequently assembled either in a formal or in- 
formal manner to discuss, debate, devise and carry forward such 
plans and projects as from time to time occupied the attention 
of the people. Its good cheer no doubt lent its aid, and who 
can tell what inspiration it imparted ? The influence of the 
Beaman Tavern was decidedly- in favor of the patriot cause and 
a favorite stopping place for soldiers on their way to and from 
the army, there to impart or receive the latest information in 
regard to events so rapidly transpiring. 

Major Beaman was a true and ardent patriot. When the first 
encroachments of arbitrary power were beginning to be felt he 
was convinced that nothing short of forcible resistance would 
be of any avail, and during the struggle he was an active and 
unflinching spirit in behalf of the liberties of the people. He 
was with the army near Boston in 1775, and during the whole 
war was actively engaged in whatever tended to the advance- 
ment of the cause. His time, his influence, his property, were 
devoted to the cause of colonial independence, making the pledge 
his own, of life, property' and sacred honor. 

The people of Shrewsbury manifested their confidence in him 
by repeated I3' electing him a member of the board of selectmen. 



128 

He was thus chosen in 1766-69-70-71-72-73-76-79-84-85. We 
of this day can hardly realize the importance of the office of se- 
lectman of a town for the years immediately preceding and 
during the Revolution. The position seems to have implied but 
little, but in reality it implied much. In towns true to the 
patriot cause it implied a lofty patriotism and an unyielding 
firmness, and was an office of the utmost importance and re- 
sponsibility. Not only were the selectmen called upon to take 
care of the ordinary interests of the town, but much additional 
labor was required. The procuring of soldiers to fill requisitions 
for men, the raising of money and supplies of provisions and 
clothing for the army, the care of the families of soldiers besides 
the carrying on of the war to a great extent on the part of the 
town. As was often the case the Committees of Safety and Cor- 
respondence were made up wholly or in part from their num- 
ber. In accordance with recommendations of the Provincial 
Congress, the town exercised largely legislative, executive and 
judicial functions ; its votes were laws, its judgment as to wheth- 
er a man was a patriot or a tory was final, and from the ver- 
dict of hostility there was no appeal ; and the selectmen and 
committees executed their decrees with spirit and firmness. 
By direction of the town they entered tories' houses, disarmed 
them, confined them to limits or in jail as the case might 
require. Thus the office was no sinecure, but on the contrary 
one of great labor, and probably at no time in the historj- of the 
colonies or the states, has such care been exercised in the choice 
of town officers as during this period of toil and strife. It is 
difficult at this day to realize the amount of labor and responsi- 
bility which devolved upon them. 

Major Beaman, aside from his services in the army, acted a 
prominent part in the revolutionary proceedings of the town. 
As selectman, member of the committee of inspection, commit- 
tee of correspondence and safety, as a prosecutor of persons 
inimically disposed towards the cause of the colonies, as one 
chosen to procure men and supplies for the continental array, 
he was zealous and indefatigable. 



129 

111 17S1 the pcoi)lc of the North Finish desiriiij^' to ohtuui an 
act of incoii)()ration :is a town, took steps in that direction. 
In the warrant for a town meeting to be held in ^lay of that 
year, the i")th article was as loUows: "To hear the petition of 
Ezra Beanian and others prating to be set off a separate town." 
Some opi)t)sition manifesting itself, it was not until ITSO that 
an act of incorporation was obtained. Of the new town which 
was named Boylston, Ezra lieainan was chosen chairman of the 
board of selectmen, wliich office he held during the ^ears 178G- 
.SS-89-i>0- *J1-1>2, and was a member of the board daring the 
3-ears l<S0,')-4-r). He was also representative from this town to 
the (ireat and General Court in 17'S'J-17i)l, and town treasurer 
17I)l-!)2-!):)-!)4. In 17'.)4 a controversy arose in relation to the 
location of a new meeting house about to be erected. Major 
Beanian whose residence was some three miles west from Bo^'l- 
ston centre, was desirous that the new house be erected half a 
mile northwest of the old one. After a [)rotracted struggle the 
majority decided to build upon the old site. Major Beaman, 
with others seceded, and he at his own expense built a meeting 
house about three miles to the westward, and this difficult}' in 
relation to the meeting house culminated after much opposition 
in the incorporation of the town of "West Boylston in ISOS. 
Of the new town he was (;h<)sen chairman of the board of select- 
men, town treasurer and representative to the General Court 
each year until his death in 1811. Benjamin F. Keyes in a very 
brief history of West Boylston published in lHr)8 says: "Al- 
thouo-h it mav in truth be said that AVest Bovlston eventually 
became a town almost wholly in consequence of his great exer- 
tions and untiring efforts, and that he laid the foundation for 
its future growth and prosperity, and although he did more to 
promote the general interest thereof than all others associated 
with him, yet very little if anything of adequate importance has 
been done (aside from a common toinb-stone erected at his 
grave) either by individual citizens or the town, as a testimony 
of his extensive intiuence, usefulness and great worth as a citi- 
zen and i)ublic benefactor, or for the perpetuation of his mem- 
ory as one of the most distinguished and influential of the town 
and community in which he resided. 



130 

A few 3-ears ago however the town desiring to do honor to 
his memory as its principal founder, voted by a large majority 
to petition the legislature for a change of name to that of Bea- 
man. Some opposition appearing, and the then representative 
of the family, a son of him for whom it was to be named, object- 
ing, the petition was never presented. 

Ezra Beaman's death occurred June 4, 1811, and his remains 
were buried in the plot of ground appropriated by his father 
previous to his death as a family burying ground, and in which 
several generations of the family now lie. This ground is on a 
ridge of land half a mile from the old Beaman Mansion, near 
the public road leading to Boylston. It overlooks a beautiful 
scenery of intervale bordering on the Nashua river and is en- 
closed b}' a remarkably solid and substantial stone wall with an 
iron gateway. At his funeral people came from far and near to 
pay respect to his memory. A lady still living who was present 
on that occasion, seventy 3'ears ago, informed me that although 
the place of burial was half a mile from the house, the head of 
the procession had arrived back to its starting point before the 
rear had left it. 

The inscription on the stone which marks his grave is as fol- 
lows : 

ERECTED 

IN MEMORY OF 

EZRA BEAMAN Esq" 

WHO DIED 

June 4 1811 

Aged 74 years 7 months 

19 days. 

Friends & Physicians could not save 
My mo]tal body from the grave 
Nor can the grave confine me here 
When Christ shall call me to appear. 

Major Beaman was ratlier short in stature, quick aud energetic 
in motion. He took much pride in beautifying the roadside of 
the town by planting along the highway adjoining his vast es- 
tate, trees of various kinds with a view to beauty and shade. 
There is a large buttonwood tree standing by the roadside near 
the old location of the ancient Beaman house bearing the marks 



131 

of age, which was planted by him in 1749, he being then thir- 
teen years of age. His life was devoted to whatever tended to 
the advancement of the interests of the community, and his 
death was sincerely mourned. He was a member of the Con- 
areoational Church and was a liberal contributor to the cause 
of religioQ. 

I have deemed it best to present copies of a few records and 
documents pertaining to Ezra Beaman which convey informa- 
tion relative to public matters. It is much to be regretted that 
the papers that belonged to him and which undoubtedly con- 
tained much of a public and personal nature have been so wide- 
ly scattered or destroyed. Upon his death, these came into the 
custody of his son who succeeded him in the possession of the 
homestead, who preserved them with the most religious care, as 
he ever did everything that pertained to his father, and although 
he lived to the age of 94 years he always spoke of him with the 
most tender and fdial respect. At his death in 1863, he never 
having married, the personal effects were scattered far and wide, 
through a general desire to obtain some memento of the distin- 
guished person to whom they once belonged. Thus they have 
been destroyed or rendered inaccessible. But these which fol- 
low I have brought together, 

"Ere yet Decay's destroying fingers 

Have swept the lines where merit lingers." 

In September, 1774 the town of Shrewsbury voted to have two 
companies of militia or training soldiers in the South Parish ; 
the second or North Parish had already taken action in this 
direction and chosen Ezra Beaman captain. 

December ■27th, 1774, the town of Shrewsbury voted unani- 
mously to adopt the Association of the Continental Congress, 
and in addition thereto, of the Provincial Congress of the 5th of 
December, relative to the non-importation and non-consumption 
of Bi'itish goods ; and in order to see the same carried into vig- 
orous execution, chose a Committee of Inspection. This com- 
mittee consisted of fifteen members of which Ezra Beaman was 
one. 



132 

On the arrival of the news of the Battle of Lexington a com- 
pany of men marched from this town with Job Gushing as Cap- 
tain, Ezra Beaman 1st Lieut, and Asa Rice 2d Lieut. Upon 
the organization of the army a majority remained. This com- 
pany was assigned to the regiment of Col. Ward and took an 
active part in the seige of Boston. 

Herewith is a copy of the Commission of Lieutenant Beaman. 

The Congress of the Colon?/ of the Massachusetts Bay 
To Ezra Beaman, Gentleman, 

Greeting : — We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in 
your Courage and good Conduct, Do, b3^ the Presents, Constitute 
and appoint yoxx the said Ezra Beaman to be a Lieutenant in the 
Company Commanded by Cap' Job Gushing in the Regiment of 
Foot whereof y** hon'*''^ Artemas Ward Esq. is Colonel raised by 
the Congress aforesaid for the Defence of said Colon}'. 

You are therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the 
Duty of a Lieutenant in leading, ordering, and exercising the 
said Compau}' in Arms both inferior Officers and Soldiers, and 
to keep them in good Order and Dicipline ; ami they are hereby 
commanded to obey you as their Lieutenant, and you are your- 
self to observe and follow such orders and Instructions as you 
shall from Time to Time receive from the General and Com- 
mander in Chief of the Forces raised in the Colon}" aforesaid, 
for the Defence of the same, or anv other your superior officers, 
according to military Rules and Disipline in War in Pursuance 
of the Trust reposed in you. 

Dated the 29th of May By order of the Congress 

A. D. 1775 JOS. WARREN 

SAM'L FREEMAN Secretary P. T. President P. T. 

Lieutenant Beaman was present and took part in the action 
on Bunker hill, and the part performed by the regiment of Col. 
Ward on that day is worthy of mention. AV'hen General Wai'd 
had learned that a reinforcement of British troops had been sent 
over to Gharlestown, thereby reducing the disposable force of 
the enemy so that an attack upon headquarters at Cambridge 
was improbable, he ordered the regiment of Col. Jonathan Ward 
to march immediatel}' to Gharlestown. The}' had proceeded to 
within a little over a mile of, the scene of action, when they 



133 

were met by a liorseman, said to have been Dr. Benjamin 
Church, one of the Committee of Safety, who afterwards proved 
a traitor, coming from Charlestown, who asked Ward if he had 
not received counter orders? "No," was the answer. "You 
soon will," said Church, "Halt here." Part of the regiment 
remained here, the other part found means to advance, and took 
part in the engagement. That part of the regiment which had 
halted, after remaining on the ground an hour or more advanced, 
but soon met the other part of the regiment returning under a 
cannonade from the British. The regiment returned to Cam- 
bridge the next morning. Lieut. Beaman was among those who 
advanced and took part in the engagement. 

The whereabouts of Lieut. Beaman during the summer and 
fall can be gathered from the following orders and passes : 

Head Quarters Cambridge June 3 1775 
Gen. Orders 

That Lieut. Beaman proceed immediately to Shrewsbury & 
apprehend & bring back Daniel Holden, Asa Smith & William 
Rusforth who have deserted & bring them back to Camp, who 
are to be dealt with according to the Nature of their Crime, & 
the Horse that was taken from one of the Islands (if either of 
the above Persons carried away any such Horse) is to be brot 
back. The Selectmen are desired to afibrd all the assistance 
Lieut. Beaman may stand in need of. 

S. OSGOOD Maj-- of Brigade 

Permit Lieut Beaman to pass the Guards from Headquarters 
Camp at Cambridge June 9"^- J. WARD Secretary 

Lieut. Ezra Beaman has leave to pass the Guard to and from 
the Camp in Dorchester 

July 28^^ 1775 J. WARD Colonel 

Camp at Roxhury 8th Sejyt. 1775 

Lieut. Beaman in Gen. Ward' Reg' has a Furlough for six days. 

P>v order of Gen' Ward 

J. WARD A. d. C. 

The Powder Horn of Lieut Beaman now in possession of The 
Worcester Society of Antiquity is a beautiful and interesting 
relic. The inscription upon it is as follows : Lieut. Ezra Bea- 
man, his horn, made at Fox Poynt so called, in Dorchester 



134 

September the 30 y* 1775, in Thomas Gage's war who came to 
Boston y® Americans for to enslave and take tlieir rights away. 
Made by Micah Briard. The engraving on this horn is most 
beautifully done, and was the work of Micah Briard, a Serjeant 
in Beaman's company. 

In October Beaman sent the following letter to Colonel Ward : 

Dorchester, October 27th, 1775. 
To Jonathan Ward Esq. Commander of a Regiment of Foot in 
the Contiyiental Army at Dorchester. 

S''. Being required by Gen!! Orders to make return in this way 
of my Design whether to Continue in said Continental Arm}- or 
not, and being first Lieutenant of a Company whereof Mf. Job 
Gushing is Cap' in your Honors Regiment & therefore of little 
Importance which is a Strong argument for my being excused, 
notwithstanding am willing but Desirous to use and exercise the 
utmost of Indeavor to preserve & Defend the Rights & Liberty's 
of my Country both Civil & Sacred, yet the many luconvenien- 
cies & almost Impossibilities that attend my Continuance in S** 
Arm}' urges in favor of my Dismission at the last of Decem'' 
next. Being assured that I can be ten fold more Servisable to 
the Arm}- being in my usual Business than present with it. 

Am S' Your Hon''^ most Obd' & Hum' Serv*. 

EZRA BEAMAN. 

His request for dismission was granted as the roll of the com- 
pany repoi'ts him in the service eight months from April 19th, 
1775, At the annual town meeting in Shrewsbury, in 177G, 
soon after his return, he was chosen one of its Committee of 
Correspondence, Safety and Inspection. 

That he was actively engaged in preparing and forwarding 
men to the Continental Army is shown by the following orders. 

To Samuel Andrews, Corporal 

^hs^ You are Required forthwith According to the Trust Re- 
1^ M posed in me by Direction of the Commander of theCol- 
onv of the Massachusetts Bay, to Notifie & warn all tlie Soldiers 
under my Command Living upon the southward side of the Riv- 
er above the Scar Bridge So called and thence to the meeting 
house all to the Road leading to Worcester, But Not on S'' Road, 
to Appear at the Meeting house in the Second Parish in Shrews- 
bury on Wednesday the 5th Day of June 177G at two of the 



135 

Clock in the After Noon witli their Arms Conipleat for exercise, 
their to Attend further orders from myself or some one of their 
oth'cers ; hearof fail not & make Return of this warrant with 
your Doings thereon to myself or in my Absence to Lieut. Faw- 
cett at or Before the Hour mentioned. 

given under my Hand and Seal this 28 Daj- of May. 
Anno. do. 177G 

EZRA BEAMAN Capt. 

To Capt, Ezra Beaman or the Chief officer Present of said 
Com'pany, Shrewsbury. 

t 

You are Required forthwith to Inlist into the Colony Service 
or Draft everv 25*'' man in the Compan}' under your Command 
Both of the trainining Band and of the Alarm List and see that 
they Are aquipt With Arms and ammunition according to Law 
and Ready to march at the Shortest Notice to Dorchester 
Heights, according to Resolve of Council of the Colony of the 
Massachusetts Bay at ^V^atertowu July 18"* and order also of 
Brigadier Warner to me Directed July 22 and make a Return of 
their Names so Inlisted or Drafted to me July 27 or on Mon- 
da}' morning Jul}- 2i)"'. 

Given under my hand at Grafton this 2-1* Day of July 177(j. 

JOHN GOULDING Col. 

To Capt. Ezra Bea^nan^Shreivshnry, the Chief officer of said 

ComjKcny, these presents (are) according (to) orders from Brig- 
adier {Gen W) araer to me directed. 

You are hereb}' required forthwith to Cause to be mustered 
the Company under your Command and Draft ever3- fifth man 
according to a resolve of the Grait & General Court of the Col- 
ony of the Massachusetts Ba^' which I send here enclosed and 
make a return to me by Tuesday night or Wednesday' morning 
Next. 

Grafton September}'^ 15 1776. 

JOHN GOULDING Col. 

To /Samuel Andrews, Corjmral 

^77^ Greeting — You are Required forthwith According to the 
t", ""'?j Trust Reposed Tn me By Direction of the Council of the 
Colon,y of the INIassachusetts Ba}- to Notifie & warn all the Sol- 
diers under my command Belonging to the training Band & also 
the Alarm List to meet at the meeting house In the Second Par- 
rish in Shrewsbury on Tuesday the 17 Day Sep' 177G at Eight 
of the Clock in the morning with their Arms Compleat on Pen- 
alty of Paying a fine of ten Pounds for Non-appearance. 



136 

hereof fail Not & make Return of this warrant with your Do- 
ings hearon to myself or in my Absence to the Next ottieir in 
Rank at or Before the Hour above mentioned. 

given under my hand & Seal this fifteenth Day .Sep* 177G. 

EZRA EEAMAN Capt. 

N. B. the Division for you & David Andrews to Be the 
westerly Parts of the Parrish from the first Parrish to the Sec- 
ond Parrish By the Road that Leads to Sawyer's Mills, 

Corjjoral Caleb Kendall 

.^S^^, Qreellng — You are Required forthwith to Notify & 
i^i warn Both Training Baud & the alarm men Belonging to 
my Company on the East side of the Road that Leads from the 
first Parrish in Shrewsbury to the Second, so Leading to Saw- 
yers Mills, to meet at the nieeting house in S'l Parrish on Wed- 
nesday the twelfth Day of this Instant February at one of the 
clock In the afternoon with their Arms Complcat, their to At- 
tend further orders. 

Hearof Fail not & make Return of this warrant with your 
Doings thereon at or Before the hour al)Ove mentioned. 

given under mv hand <fc Seal the fifth Day of February A. D. 

1777 

EZllA BEAMAX Capt. 

On the lOth day of June, 1777, Ezra Beaman was commis- 
sioned Major in the Sixth Worcester regiment, commanded 
by Col. Job Cushing of Shrewsbury. This regiment was engag- 
ed in the movements of the northern army which culminated 
in the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne. 

Previous to the battle 5f Bennington this regiment had passed 
through that place and pushed on towards Ticonderoga. Re- 
ceiving orders to return and reinforce General Stark without 
delay, it arrived at Bennington on Sunday, the day after the 
battle, and performed guard duty over tlie P)ritish prisoners. 

The following are from Shrewsbury Town Rccoids : 
"D' Edward Flint et Cap' Ezra Beaman were chosen <>ii the 
17 day of February 1777. delegates to a convention proposed to 
be heid at the request of tlie town of Sutton at the house of Wid- 
ow Stearns in Worcester on the 2i\ of Feb'y, to come into some 
measures for the repeal of an act passed in the Great & General 
Court last spring called an act for the more equal Representation 
of the several towns in this state." 



"IMaj. Ezra Beanian was chosen unanimously to procure & 
lay before the court at a special session of the Peace, the evidence 
that may be had of the Inimical disposition Towards any of the 
united States, of any Inljabitaut of said town who sliall be charg- 
ed by the freeholders & other Inhabitants thereof of being a per- 
son whose residence in this State is dangerous to the Public 
Peace or Safety." 

October 20 1777 "chosen a member of a committee to adjust 
the duty done by each individual in said Town in the war since 
the PJtii day of April 1775." 

November 16 1778 "Granted to Major Beaman for the ex- 
pense of 17 days in attending special court & collecting evi- 
dence in the prosecution of inimical persons in the vear 1777 — 
£ll-U)s-Od and for cash paid M"' Lincoln for assisting in the 
prosecution of these inimical persons." 

August 9th 1779 chosen a member of a "committee, the town 
having voted to adopt the measures proposed by the convention 
at Concord 14th July 1779 & to regulate prices, and to see the 
resolves referred to are strictly and duly executed." 

25th May 1780 chosen member of a "committee to frame 
amendments to the Bill of Rights." 

January 1 1781 "chosen to procure men for the Continental 
Armj'." 

February 8th 1781 "chosen one of a committee for hiring mon- 
ey for the payment of men for the Continental Army." 

March 20 1782 In a Tax of £65 for a Continental Man for 
the arnn' for three years, in a class of fort}' eight names Ezra 
Beaman's proportion was £15-8s-5(;-2g nearly one third of the 
whole tax. In another Tax of £72 his proportion was £17-2s 

The following petition to the Great and General Court is 
without date. 

CommonwealVh of MassacTiusells. 

To the lion, the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Court assembled: 

HUMBLY Shews Ezra Beaman of Shrewsbury in the County 
of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aforesaid 
Esquire, That he was at great expense during the late war in 
detecting and prosecuting persons inimically disposed to the 
general interests of the country ; That he was at great expense 
«fe trouble in detecting Jotham Bush of Shrewsbury guilty of 



138 

uttering large sums of counterfeit money ; procuring witnesses 
for attending on the Courts from time to time when the said 
Bush was recognized for the crime of uttering & passing coun- 
terfeit money in the Counties of Middlesex and AVorcester ; That 
vour Petitioner spent considerable sums of Money and much 
Time in detecting Solomon Houghton of Lancaster, suspected 
and charged with uttering and passing large sums of counterleit 
money, and that he was recognized as an evidence against said 
Houghton on eleven ditierent indictments from Term to Term, 
for more than three years and expended a large sum of money 
in sending into the Eastern Country after the said Houghton at 
the express request of the Attorney General and was obliged to 
advance considerable sums of money to support evidence at Court 
from time to time on the ditferent Indictments against the said 
Houghton ; and that he was at great expense in sending to Bos- 
ton to apprehend one David Bush who was suspected of having 
a large sum of Counterfeit Money with him, the attendance as a 
prosecutor of the said Bush a number of Courts, paying and sup- 
porting at his own expense divers witnesses against said Bush ; 
That he attended a number of Terms as a witness against one 
John Williams charged with high Crimes and Misdemeanors 
against the Government, and that for more than seven years 
vour Petitioner was constantly recognized as a witness in the 
County of Worcester against i)ersons dangerously inimical to 
the Community and charged with counterfeiting the common 
currenc}' of the Country' ; That he was instrumental in detect- 
ing divers persons suspected of the Crimes aforesaid. For which 
service he has never received any recompense, neither hath he 
ever been refunded the mone}' expended by him in the business 
aforesaid ; That he has regularly with others made certificate 
of his travel and attendance in the cases of tiie Commonwealth 
against Houghton and John Bush and delivered the same to the 
Attorney General but without any kind of effect, Wherefore 
your petitioner humbly prays the Hon^'*' Court that they would 
take such measures as thej' in their wisdom should judge proper 
in order that your Petitioner ma}' have some reasonable Com- 
pensation for his great trouble. Time, expenses & disbursements 
and as in Duty bound shall ever pray. 

The following has an interest as connected with the incorpo- 
ration of the town of Boylston : 

At a leo;al meeting holden at the Second Precinct in Shrews- 
bury on Monday the Ninth day of May A, D. 1785, the warrant 
for said meeting contained the following article viz : "2"*"^ To 
hear the Petition of the Committee of the Second Precinct in S"^ 



139 

Shrewsbury requesting the Town would choose a Joynt Com- 
mittee from each Precinct to peramhukite the line and renew 
the Bounds between the Precincts, as also to settle uU other 
matters relating to a Seperation of Parishes & to act anything 
relative thereto the the toun may think in'oper." The town vot- 
ed a committe consisting of six, three m each precinct, viz ; 
Col" Job Cushing, L' Jonas Temple, Capt. Jonah Howe, Capt" 
Joseph Bigelow, Maj*^ Ezrah Beaman and Maj' Asa Rice who 
reported at a subsequent meeting that they had "run the bounds 
&c. ; that the one half of the town securities, Town Stock of 
Ammunition & Intrenching tools which are the Property of said 
Town shall belong to the first precinct, and the other half shall 
be the property of the second Precinct, being equally divided. 
The Weights & Measures to be the property of the first pre- 
cinct." The poor are severally assigned. Voted to sett oft". 

The following receipts are interesting as showing the position 

of the town of Boylston in Shays' Rebellion, and as giving the 

names of persons who served in suppressing that insurrection. 

Boyhton May the 4 A D. 1787 

Then Received of Ezra Beaman the wages that is due to us 

the Subscribers as they are made up in Capt. Robert Andrews' 

Muster Roll, for servisses Dun in surpressing the Late Rebellion 

JOSEPH HERENY 
EHIJAH PIKE 
SILVANUS DINSMOOR. 

Boylston May 10 A. D, 1787 

Then Receivd of Ezra Beaman all the wages that is Due to 
us the Subscribers for Serveises while we ware in Capt. Jonah 
How's Company in Sirpressing the Late Rebellion in the west- 
ward Countyis 

JAMES LONGLEY SAMUEL WHITCOMB ALMER GOODNUF 
JOHN ANDERSON STEPHEN BIGLO DAVID RICE 

JONAS GOODNUF JASON GLAZIER KING HOW 

JOTHAM GOODNUF ROBERT HUDSON JOSHUA STILES 

LEVI MOORE AMARIAH SAWYER JOHN WHEELER 

JOHN HASTINGS Jr WILLIAM SAWYER LEVI BIGLOW 
SAMUEL IIARTHAN JOSEPH BIGELOW Jr JONATHAN BOND 

Boylston May the 4th 1787 

Then Received of Ezra Beaman the wages that is due to us the 

Subscribers as they are made up on Cap' Hollowell Taylers 

Muster Roll for Servisses Dun in Surpressing the Late Rebellion 

in the westward Counties. 

AMHERST MORSE 

JONATHAN BOND Jr 

JOHN ANDREWS. 



140 

I find a quaint order to Ezra Beaman as Precinct Treasurer. 

Shreivsbury Second Precinct January 3 1184 
To Major Ezra Beaman Precinct Treasurer 

You are directed to pay ^-ourself Sixteen Pounds Six Shillings 
and a peniiy two farthings for Money spent in defending the 
Action brought by Jotham Bush against the collectors & As- 
sessors of said precinct and Eleven Pounds fifteen shillings «fe two 
pence being money laid out in Repairing the Meeting House 
and this order shall discharge you so much 

LEVI MOOR \ Committee for 

JONATHAN BOND / said Precinct. 

The documents which follow have an interest as presenting a 
portion of the history of the incorporation of the town of West 
Boylston. In 1794 a petition was presented to the town of 
Boylston as follows : 

To the Inhabitants of the Totvn of Boylston, Gentlemen — 
The petition of the Subscribers Humbly Shetceth 

That your Petitioners view the time as being near at hand 
when circumstances will admit of their enjoying Ecclesiastical 
privileges in a more conscientious, agreeable & in a Much more 
convenient & enlarged manner than they have hitherto done, & 
being sensible that Religion the basis of human happiness is a 
natural concomitant of these privileges, we think it our duty to 
request that you would fully consent to our being incorporated 
into a separate Town, District or Society, as you think most 
proper. We do not solicit this favor wliolly with a view to pro- 
mote our Interests, Einolunient or convenience, but ibr the good 
of a respectable number of our Neighbors, the welfare of our 
own & their Children & succeeding generations. Your compli- 
ance or non compliance with our request we do not consider as 
desisive of the cause we have undertaken ; but we view it in 
your prese;it power either to aid or oppose our pursuit of the 
object we aim at. 

We now declare unto you Gentlemen, that we do not wish to 
obtain the Prayer of our Petition to .you, or of a similar one to 
higher power, by any unhiwful or unfair means ; but by con- 
trary means. We are iuHexibl^- determined- to use our utmost 
efforts.. Because Ave are persuaded that our request is not only 
reasonable but that there is a fair prospect of our being separat- 
ed from you. That this is the case we think you will not deny. 
If so, will it not be consistent with your own & our Interest to 
grant us our request. We think it will. 



141 

Consider 3'onr Petitioners as separate from yon, and you will 
still be a respectable so(iety, more numerous, of greater ability 
than many other Towns in this State. Is a forced connection 
Avith us worth couU'udini>' for. Again, we ask what injury can 
you sustain by parting with us. To this you may reply that 
vour IMinisters tax will be a little augmented. This will not we 
think alford you a suflicient plea to withstand or even induce 
you to engage in an uncertain contest. These things Gentlemen 
we request you would wisely consider & ^our I'etitioners as in 
dutv bound shall ever prav. 

EZRA BEAMAN 
& 27 others. 

This petition the town refused to grant and the following was 
sent to the Great and General Court : 

To the Honorable, the Senate and House of RepresentaMves in 
General Court Assembled. 

HUMBLY shew the Subscribers your petitioners, agents for 
the second parish in Boylston Holden and Sterling in the 
County of Worcester that the Inhabitants of said Parish are 
desirous that the Territory belonging to said Parish may be 
constituted and incorporated into a District by some proper 
Name and vested with all the Powers and Privileges which by 
law appertain and belong to Districts. 

Your petitioners believe that the Happiness and Comfort of 
the second Parish aforesaid will be promoted h\ an incorpora- 
tion into a District, that their concerns will be managed with 
more facility, convenience & with less Difficulty than in their 
present situation, that no possible injury can accrue to the towns 
of Boylston, Holden & Sterling or anv other place, by your 
granting tlieir request. Confidently relying on the Justice & 
Wisdom of the Legislature they humbly hope that their petition 
will lie granted and as in Duty bound will ever pray 

Jan'v 1S()7 EZRA BEAIMAX "] Assents for and 

JONATHAN PL YM PTON I in'behalf of the 
PAITI. GOODALE - Parish in Boylston 



WILLIAM FAIRliANK Holden & Sterling 



'ft* 



In House of Representatives 
July 23, 1)^07 Received & Committed to Committe on Towns. 
Sent up for Concurrence PEREZ MORTON Speaker. 

In Senate Jan'y 23 1807, Read & Concurred 

J. BACON President. 



142 

The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider the 
Applications for the Incorporation of Towns &c. on the Petition 
of Ezra Beaman and others report the following order which is 

submitted. 

SALEM TOWNE Per order. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

Ordered : That the Petitioners cause an attested Copy of their 
Petition with this order thereon, to be served on the respective 
Town Clerks of the Towns of Boylston, Holden & Sterling, 
Forty days at least before the first Tuesday of the first session 
of the next General Court, that all persons may then appear, 
and show cause (if any they have) why the prayer of said Peti- 
tion should not be granted. 
In Senate Jan'y 24th 1807 

Read and passed. Sent down for Concurrence. 

J. BACON President. 

In House of Representatives Jan'y 26th 1807 

Read & Concurred 

PEREZ MORTON Speaker. 

A copy of this petition was served upon the town clerk of 
Boylston by Silas Beaman. A copy was served upon the town 
clerks of Holden and Sterling by Robert B. Thomas. 

This petition brought out the following remonstrance : 

To the HonoraUe Seriate & House of RepresentaMves in General 
Court Assembled. 

The Inhabitants of the town of Boylston in the County of 
Worcester being cited on the Petition of Ezra Beaman & others 
to shew cause why the second Precinct in the Town of Boylston, 
Sterling & Holden should not be Incorporated into a District : 
The Subscribers, agents for said Town duly authorized & ap- 
pointed for that purpose Respectfully submit to your considera- 
tion their answer to the prayer of said petition. 

An unfortunate division having arisen in said Town in tlie 
year 17'.)4 relative to tlie location of a IVIeeting house, then about 
to be erected, a few disattected individuals have from that pe- 
riod been indefatigable in their exertions to produce the dis- 
memberment & eventually the total ruin of the Corporation. 
In pursuance of this object the leading Petitioner availing him- 
self of the Power and Influence derived from an ample fortune, 
erected a Meeting house at his own Individual expense within 



14 



Q 



the limits of the present precinct, publicly [)roclaiming his inten- 
tion to bring a separation as the most direct and certain means of 
destroying the Town. A petition was accordingly presented to 
the Legislature for the Incorporation of a new Town to be com- 
posed of certain sections of the towns of Boylston, Sterling & 
Holden ; on this Petition the said towns were cited and their 
opposition having proved successful, the next effort was to ob- 
tain an Incorporation of the present Precinct. Not satisfied 
with the accomplishment of this purpose, a petition was soon 
after preferred for an enlargement of the precinct by lopping 
c»lf another section of the said Town of Boylston. The Inhabi- 
tants were again cited and notwithstanding their strenuous op- 
position the object was eli'ected. 

Having thus gradually severed from the original Corporation 
by far the most valuable and fertile portion of the Territory & 
more than one quarter of the whole number of ratable polls, the 
remaining Inhabitants had flattered themselves that the enemy 
would '•'■Cease from troubling" and that they should be permitted 
to enjov in tranquility' the privileges which had been left to them 
after this injurious encroachment. 

It being discovered however that the Town would survive the 
shock and that something more remained to be done before the 
Antient Corporation would be completelv subverted, a new Pro- 
ject is devised & an attempt is now made, (with a spirit of ob- 
stinate i)ei'severance for which our leading opponent is particu- 
larly distinguished) to convert the Precinct into a district more 
effectually to Impair our privileges and to accomplish this sys- 
tematic work of Destruction. Possessing advantages for an 
Increase of Population much superior to the first Precinct (from 
the better qualitv of their Land & other local causes) it is cal- 
culated with confidence by the Petitioners that the ratable polls 
within the intended district which are now nearly equal will soon 
exceed in number those within the Town of Boylston. By thus 
bringing to their aid a small portion of the Inhabitants of Ster- 
ling and Holden (who will compose a part of the district) it is 
intended b}- our enemies Inhabiting this disaffected section to 
deprive the Town of the important privilege of Representation. 
Such will l)e the Inevitable consequence of incorporating the 
petitioners into a district. Provided such district is attached to 
the Town of Boylston. 

Such we know to be the object of their leaders because it has 
been openly avowed, and although the petition is silent on the 
subject of annexation they have pul)licly declared their intention 
to be annexed to the Town of Boylston. 

With this impression, with an anxious desire to preserve our 
Corporate existence, to retain the privilege of representation 



144 

fully & earnestly to remonstrate against the prayer of said pe- 
tition, 'provided the District thus to be incorporated in to he an- 
nexed to the town of Boijlston of which ice are Inhabitants. 

At the same time we wish it to be explicitly understood that 
all opposition on our part is withdrawn if it be consented on 
the part of the petitioners or is found expedient by the Legisla- 
ture to annex the intended District to Sterling, Holden or any 
other Town in the County. For although we have most sensibly 
felt the injury resulting to us from the partial dismemberment 
of this small but once united & flourishing Corporation, yet our 
peace has been so incessantly disturbed by new projects of en- 
croachment, and we have encountered so much trouble and ex- 
pense in opposing these projects that we are now fully pursuad- 
ed we shall never be at rest ; that our existence as a Corpora- 
tion will be in perpetual jeopardy until this troublesome and 
oftending member is totally severed from the body which it thus 
threatens to destro}'. 

For the fourth time the Town of Boylston is now cited before 
the Legislature to answer to the petition of Ezra Beaman and 
others. The object of each of these petitions has been most 
essentially to injure if not destroy us as a Corporation. Let 
Ezra Beaman &. others become a Corporation totally detached 
from us, & whatever may be the evil we will Patiently submit. 
We trust with confidence in the wisdom of the Legislature to 
discern the object of the present petition, & we trust with equal 
confidence that they will be influenced l)y a desire of justice & 
a regard to the essential interests of a small but peaceable com- 
munity, to refuse an act of incorporation annexing the i>roposed 
District to the Town of Boylston against the earnest wishes and 
settled ojiposition of every'lndividual who feels a solicitude to 
preserve our existence as a Corporation 

Boylston May 26 1807 JAMES LONGLEY ") Agents for 

ROBERT ANDREWS \ the town of 
AARON WHITE J Boylston. 

A remonstrance against annexation signed by Jonas Temple 
and sixty-one others was also presented to the Legislature, the 
principal argument being that it would aff"ect the privilege of 
representation. vSometime afterwards agents of the town of 
Boylston and of the precinct in Boylston Holden and Sterling, 
met and signed articles of agreement, Article 1st of which was 
as follows : "It is agreed that the Precinct shall be incorporated 
into a town," 



^'°l^^- "<r^--'*'?*'^^>^^S-''' 



145 

DONATIONS. 

* 

^ Ml' ^ 

Aldrich, p. Emory, — Autograph of Thomas Sirams, framed. 

AsTOR Library, New York. — 32d Annual Report. 

Barrows, Alonzo M. — Framed Portrait. 

Bartlett. Thomas E.. East Cambridge, Mass. — 2 volumes. 

Bates, Phineas Jr., Boston. — Boston School Documents as issued. 

Caldwell, Augustus. — 14 numbers Antiquarian Papers. 

Canadian Institute, Toronto. C, W. — Proceedings, 1881. 

Chamberlin, Henry H. — Manuscript of his "Trade of Worcester" read be- 
fore the Society. 

Chandler, George, M. D. — 1 volume , 8 pamphlets. 

Clemence, Henry M. — 3 volumes, 4 pamphlets. 

Cook, Norton L. — 1 paper. 

Crane, Ellery B. — 2 volumes, 6 pamphlets, 1 piece Colonial Currency, 
Ballots, his Map of Old Worcester. 

Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences. Davenport, Iowa. — Proceed- 
ings, Vol. III. No. I. Proceedings, Vol. II. Part II. 

Davis, Hon. Horace, San. Francisco, Cal. — His sketch of the life of Dolor 

Davis, 
Dickinson, Thomas A. — 1 volume, Anti Slavery paper found among the pa - 

papers of John Milton Earle, Straw Splitting Machine found in the house 

of Mrs. Polly Tucker in 1879. 
Dodge, Benjamin J. — 1 volume, 11 pamphlets, 1 broadside. 1 paper. 

Emerson, William A. — A copy of a specimen of Pottery found by Dr. Schlie- 

mann at ancient Troy. 
Essex Institute, Salem, Mass.— Essex Bulletin as published. 
EsTEY, James L. — Indian god from Alabahad, India. 
Fenno, Charles W., East Orange, N. J. — 7 pamphlets. 
Fisher, Charles H.— 2 volumes. 
Harris, Clarendon. — 3G volumes, bound, American Almanac ; 2 National 

do., 4 volumes, bound. Tribune Almanac. 
Harvard University. — Harvard University Bulletin as published. 
Henshaw, Miss Harriet E., Leicester, Mass, — 2 volumes, 2 portraits. 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania— Pennsylvania Magazine as published. 

Howard, Joseph Jackson LL. D., London, England. — Miscellania Genea- 
logica et Heraldica as published. 

JiLLsoN, Clark — 14 volumes, 24 pamphlets, 9 magazines, 2 newspapers, 
counterfeit money, his Annual Address as President, and Memorial Re- 
marks before the Society, 2 copies. 

Johnson, Charles R. 18 pamphlets, package of political circulars. 

Kingsbury, H. H., Spencer. — 1 volume. 

Kinney, B. H. — 1 pamphlet. 



146 

Lawrence, E. R.— 1 volume, 4 pamphlets. 

Lee Pardon A.— 2 flags from Arlington Heights, Horse Nails made by 
machinery, ancient Work Bag, Lamp used in Massachusetts State House 
1812, 1 napkin ring. 
Library Company of Philadelphia.— Bulletin, new series. No. 7. 
Lowe, Moses H. — 5 volumes. 

Marble. Albert P., Ph. D.— His Address to the public school teachers of 
Worcester, March 30, 1881, three copies. Report of Wocester Schools, 1880 

six copies. 
Marble, E. H.— Indian Hunting shirt from Oregon, specimen of crude 
sulphur. 

Marshall, E. H.— 5 volumes, 1 pamphlet, 1 broadside, geological specimens. 
Maynard, M. a.— File of Heart and Hand, Minnesota Historical Society 

Biennial Report, 1881. 
Members of the Society. — Oil portrait of Elihu Burritt, framed. 
New England Historic Genealogical Society. — New England Historical 
and Genealogical Register as published ; Vol. L Memorial Biographies, 
Knox manuscripts. Proceedings, 25 Oct., 1880. 
O'Flynn, Richard. — 1 manuscript sermon, 1 broadside. 
Paine, Nathaniel.— Paine Family Records, Nos. IX-X ; his Genealogical 
Notes of the Paine family of Worcester ; photograph of the Old U. S. Ho- 
tel, AVorcester ; certiticatc in manuscript dated Lexington, April 4, 1776 ; 
manuscript account of damages from British troops, Lexington Mass., 
1775, 4 pamphlets, 1 paper. 
Parker, Edward O.— 2 copies Garfield Memorial. 
Peck. Augustus E. — 1 volume, 2 pamphlets. 

Peirce, Henry B., Boston.— 11 volumes Massachusetts documents. 
Phelps. Henry. — 25 pamphlets, 1 autograph. 
Plummer, Israel, Northbridge. — Old flint-lock rifle. 
Prouty, Augustus B.— Card tooth machine, made by Capt Joshua Lamb 

of Leicester, in 1828. 
Providence Athenaeum. — 46th Annual Report. 

Putnam, Samuel H. — Military chest of Company A, 2oth Regiment Mass. 
Vols.,' containing books, papers &c. relating to the service of the company 
in the Rebellion. 
Putnam & Davis. — Miscellaneous lot of book catalogues. 
Raymond, Edward T. — 1 paper. 
Rhode Island Historical Society.— Proceedings of the Society 1880-81, 

12 volumes of R. I. State documents. 
Rice, Franklin P. — 14 Boston Almanacs, newspaper cuttings. 
Rice, Hon. W. W. — 2 volumes U. S. documents. 

Roe. Alfred S., A. M. — 5 volumes, package of amateur papers, 40 maga- 
zines, 1 sermon, newspapers from nearly every State and territory with 
notices of the death of President Garlield. 
Rogers, James S., Foster Brook, Pa. — 1 paper. 

RuGG, Charles F. — Piece of ramrod from ship Somerset that covered the 
advance of the British troops at Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. 



147 

Russell, John E. — 1 pamphlet. 

Salisbury, Stephen Je. — North American Review 1881. 

Seagrave, Daniel. — His Genealogy of the Seagrave family, file of Massa- 
chusetts Spy 1818, 1 broadside. 
Sheldon, Hon. George., Deerlield, Mass.^ — 1 newspaper. 

Shumway, Henry L. — -t volumes, 80 pamphlets, Magazine of American 
History, 1881, 1 paper. 

Smith, Henry M. — 1 volume. 

Smith, "William A. — Declaration of Independence electrotyped in metal, 
framed. 2 pamphlets. 

Snoav & "Woodman. — I volume. 

Staples, Samuel E. — 3 volumes, 39 pamphlets, 2 manuscripts, 6 almanacs, 
4 broadsides, brick made from silt of Hudson River Tunnel, 

Stone, Augustus. — 1 volume, 32 pamphlets, 5 papers, 4 magazines. 
Stone, Rev. Edwin M., Providence, R. I. — 1 pamphlet. 
SuNNER, George. — 10 volumes, 63 pamphlets, 4 newspapers, Constitution 
of New York 1859 extraordinary size. 

Surrey Archaeological Society. London, England, — Collections of the 
Society, Vol. VII. Part III., Vol. VIII. Part I. 

Thompson, George F. — 82 volumes Mass. documents, 12 magazines. 

Thompson, H. H. — Rebellion envelopes. 

Thompson, E. F. — 6 pamphlets. 

Tillinghast, C. B., Boston. — Report of the Librarian of the Mass. State 
Library, 1881 ; sermon delivered at the Annual Election Massachusetts, 
January 5, 1881, by Daniel L. Furber D. D„ Suffolk county deeds Liber 1, 

TowNE, Enoch H, — 3 volumes. 

Vermont Historical Society. — 1 volume Governor and Council of Ver- 
mont, Vol. VIII. 

Washburn & Moen ISIanueacturing Company.— 2 volumes and collection 
of pamphlets illustrating the manufacture and use of Barb Fence and 
Telegraph wire. 

Wesby, Edward, — 35 pamphlets. 

Wesby, Herbert. — 4 pamphlets. 

Wesby, J. S. & Son.— 60 pamphlets, file of Springfield Republican. 

"Whiting, Charles. B. — 1 pamphlet. 

"Wilder, Harvey B. — 3 Old Almanacs. 

"Wisconsin Slate Historical Society. — Catalogue of library, Vol. V. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

ALBERT A. LOVELL, 

Librarian. 



m=^t 



148 

The President, Mr. Ellerj B. Crane, presented the 
report of the department of Local History and Gen- 
ealogy. This with the reports of the other depart- 
ments will be found at the end of these proceedings. 

The Society then proceeded to ballot for officers 
for 1882, previous to which action the Treasurer, 
Mr. James A. Smith, and the Librarian, Mr. Albert 
A. Lovell, declined a re-election. The following 
were chosen: 

President: Ellery B. Crane. Vice Presidents: 
Albert Tolman, George Sumner. Secretarj^ : Henry 
L. Shumway. Treasurer: Henry F. Stedman. Li- 
brarian: Samuel E. Staples. Standing Committee 
on Nominations for three years: Franklin P. Rice.* 

On motion of Mr. W. H. Bartlett the thanks of 
the Society were given to the retiring officers, 
Messrs. Curtis, Smith and Lovell. 

The meeting was then adjourned for two weeks. 



A special meeting of the Society was held on the 
evening of Thursday Dec. 15th, in Natural History 
Hall. 

Burton W. Potter Esq. read an interesting paper 
on "The Utilization of Sewage," preceded by an his- 
torical sketch relating to his subject. 

The address of Mr. Potter was listened to with the 
strictest attention. He gave a detailed account of 



* At the meeting in January, 1882, Mr. Rice was excused and Daniel 
Seagrave elected in his place. 



149 

various methods resorted to in Europe for the dis- 
posal of sewage in ancient and modern times, giving 
a minute description of the sewage farm at Croydon, 
Enghmd, a city larger than Worcester, and intima- 
ting that the same system might be adopted here 
with reasonable hope of success, in case five or six 
hundred acres of land, favorably located, could be 
put in proper condition for irrigation. 

This address contains a large amount of valuable 
information relating to sewers and sewage. 

When the speaker had concluded his remarks, an 
opportunity was given to all present for an inter- 
change of opinion upon the subject so ably discussed 
bv Mr. Potter. 

The different opinions expressed as to the man- 
ner of dealing with sewage were about equal to the 
number of persons who had anything to say upon 
the subject. 

Mr. J. S. Perry claimed that vegetables or grass 
grown on a sewage fiirni would be rank and unfit 
food for man or beast. He advocated the theory 
that all sewage should be gathered up and carried 
away by teams instead of wasting water to wash it 
into the Blackstone River. 

Hon. Thomas J. Hastings said that the pollution 
of streams, so much complained of at the present 
time, was largely due to the use of chemicals for 
cleansing and other purposes in the mills situated 
near the water courses, and not the result of sewage 
alone. 



150 

The discussion was continued by remarks from 
Messrs Dexter Rice, Clias. B. Long, Elbridge Boy- 
den, Wm. H. Earle, Wm. T. Harlow, A. B. Lovell, 
Edwin Ames and others. Some advocated the phm 
of Mr. Potter, others thought that agitation was 
the one thing needful, and that sewage might be 
purified by motion and contact with the atmosphere. 
Others advocated the plan of conveying the sewage 
of Worcester into and over a series of vats or basins 
far enough to allow the sediment to settle and the 
the water become purified. 

Hon. Clark Jillson said that each person who had 
spoken was the advocate of at least one theory dif- 
fering from all the rest, and that he did not care to 
add another to the list, but would only predict that 
"When the sewage of Worcester is properly and 
satisfactorily disposed of, it will be by means of me- 
chanical filtration." 



The adjourned Annual meeting was held at the 
rooms, Tuesday evening, December 20th. 

The folloAving were present : Messrs. Crane, Lee, 
Shumway, Lovell, Marshall, Rice, Gould, Seagrave, 
Tucker, James A. Smith, and Cook — 11. 

On motion it was voted that the Treasurer report 
to the Secretary the names of delinquent members 
for record. The annual assessment for 1882 was 
fixed at three dollars. Adjourned. 
This closes the record of the Society's work for 1881. 



151 



REPORT ON ARCHEOLOGY AND GENERAL HISTORY. 

THE past year has witnessed important developments in the 
field of archaeological research. Investigations have been 
vigorously pushed forward in various parts of the world, and in 
most instances these elforts have been attended with gratifying 
success. A few illustrations will perhaps suffice to indicate the 
progress that has been made. 

Mr. Holmuzd Rassam in excavating on the site of ancient 
Babylon has discovered the ruins of what was once the great 
commercial exchange of that opulent city. Here have been 
unearthed innumerable inscribed tablets, the records of the ex- 
change. The inscriptions relate to nearly every kind of monetary 
transaction, aud prove that the difficult subject of finance was 
understood at that early day almost as well as now. Among 
other curiosities are tax receipts that show how the revenue was 
raised, petitions against the oppression of tax collectors and 
deeds of mortmain. Mr. Rassam'has also brought to light some 
important inscriptions relating to the history of the city during 
the period immediately preceding its capture by Cyrus, together 
with a record of the achievraents of that monarch, and an ac- 
count of the triumphs of Alexander the Great. Exploring in like 
manner the ruins of some cities lying to the North of Babylon, 
and evidently older tlian the latter, Mr. Rassam has unearthed 
monuments whose inscriptions chronicle events in the earliest 
Chaldean history, and carry us back, in imagination, to the 
before the flood. 

Important as are these discoveries they hardly approach in 
interest those made last season in Egypt. In a secret subter- 
ranean cliamber in the Lydian mountains Herr Emil Bruysch, 
brother of the noted archaeologist. Dr. Henry Bruysch, has 
found the mummies of not less than thirty Theban mouarchs 
too-ether with an almost counties number of other valuable relics. 
Among these mummies are those of Thothmes III. who ordered 
the construction of the obelisk recently brought to New York, 



152 

Rameses II., the great Sesostris, and Queen Hatasoo. The 
chamber or pit where the mummies were found was excavated 
out of solid rock and is thirty -five feet deep. It is approached 
by a gallery two hundred feet long, also hewn out of the rock. 

It is situated about four miles from Thebes. The bodies had 
evidently been hurriedly brought thither from the royal tombs 
by the priests in view of some impending calamity, probably the 
invasion of Cambyses. One of the most singular and valuable 
discoveries was an immense leather tent bearing the seal of king 
Pinotim of the 21st dynasty. It was well preserved, and cover- 
ed with hieroglyphs embroidered in red, green and yellow leath- 
er, the colors being quite fresh and bright. It is to be hoped 
that the papyri, of which a number were found, will, when de- 
ciphered, throw new light upon the history of ancient Egypt, 
and give us a clearer view of those early races contemporary 
with the Egyptians, of whom we now have but a dim and shad- 
owy outline. In any event the importance of this discovery 
from an archii?ological standpoint can hardly be over estimated. 

The archaeologists of the western hemisphere have not been 
less diligent than their brethren of the eastern hemisphere, 
though the results of their labors mav not have been so remark- 
able. M. Desire Charnay has continued his researches in Cen- 
tral America and Mexico, and after long and patient study has 
reached the conclusion that the ruins found in those countries 
are of a far more recent origin than has geuerallv been supposed. 
He attributes to none of them an age of more than a thousand 
years, and adduces manv facts which seem to indicate that his 
reasonins; is correct. His studies have also led him to believe 
that what seems to be distinct civilizations among the ancient 
peoples of that region are all of common origin, or, as he puts 
it, all the civilizations in Mexico and Central America are Tol- 
tec, as all those of I^urope are Grecian. 

Dr. A. Le Plongeon, on the other jjand, who has devoted 
much time to investigation in the same localities has formed en- 
tirely different opinions. In a recent private letter to a friend 
he says that as a result of his studies he is convinced that 
America was the cradle of the human race, and that from thence 
proceeded civilization, to enlighten the Eastern world. 



153 

It is hardly necessary to refei- to the many other scholars who 
are devoting their best energies to archaeological research on 
this side the ocean. They are to be found delving in the 
mounds of the West and South, climbing to the deserted homes 
of the cliff-dwellers in New Mexico, threading the labyrinthine 
forests of Yucatan aud Central America in quest of long lost 
cities, or striving to rescue ancient grandeur from oblivion, on 
the rich table lands of Eucador and Peru. We may well expect 
large returns from the industry of so many laborers. 

The increased interest on this subject, manifested on all sides, 
argues well for future progress. If this interest continues un- 
abated rich results may be looked for in the next few years, and 
the solution of most of the great problems of history will not be 
long deferred. We shall know, for example, for what purpose 
the pyramids of Egypt were built; what became of the "Ten 
lost Tribes of Israel ;" the origin of the Mound builders, and, 
with the decipherment of the hieroglypic inscriptions of Yucatan 
and Central America, the true story of Atlantis. Let us hope 
that these grand results will erelong be attained, and that when 
attained our Society may in some degree share in the triumph. 

CHARLES R. JOHNSON, Chairman. 



REPORT ON LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY 

ANOTH ER revolution of time has been noted. Another cycle 
of events have passed into history, and the department of 
Local History and Genealogy is for the fourth time called upon 
to give some little account of its stewardship for the year that 
we are now just rounding out. 

The rapid growth of our city during the past two years tells 
us more truly than simple words can do, of the genuine pros- 
perity which the people of AVorcester have been and are now 
enjoying. It was claimed that more money was expended in 
the erection of new buildings and the remodeling of old ones 
during the year 1880 than had been expended in any one of the 



154 

seven preceding j-ears, and it seems to me that the thrift so 
apparent last year has not as yet in the least diminished, but 
that the growth of our city in 1881 will compare favorably with, 
if not exceed that of the previous year. 

This natural development which is going on necessarily cre- 
ates radical changes in many portions of the city : the old famil- 
iar haunts are fast disappearing, while massive blocks of brick 
and stone suddenly spring up in their places. The general 
appearance of Front street has been greatly improved by nu- 
merous alterations the most important of which was the remodel- 
ing of Mr. Amos B. Hall's old two story building into a fine five 
story block having one of the finest fronts in the city, extend- 
ing on Front Street from Warren Street to Vine Street (an old 
wooden building having been removed from the lot on the corner 
of Vine and Front Streets to make room for a portion of the New 
Block). The old wooden building which for so many years 
stood on the Westerly corner of Church and Front Streets known 
as the Abijah Bigelow Estate and which was used as our first 
cit}' Hospital, which was incorporated in 1871, and later for a 
free Medical Dispensary, has been removed, together with the 
other wooden buildings which stood west of it, to make room 
for the erection of more durable and substantial buildings by 
the present owner of the land, Mr. Jonas G. Clark. This geutle- 
man now has in progress of construction upon a lot on JMain 
street, west of the old common, including the spot where recent- 
ly stood the residence of Dr. Joseph Sargent, a building that 
the citizens of AVorcester may justly be proud of, and con- 
gratulate themselves for having among their number such an 
enterprising man, so willing to do and so abundantly able to 
carry forward an3' improvement he may see fit to undertake. 
But the growth oi our city is seen in other directions. The 
Hon. Stephen Salisbur}^, together with his son, have been con- 
tinuing their extensive improvements so timel,y inaugurated a 
few years since on Union street near Lincoln Square, where no 
one can fail to admire the massive and comely buildings that 
now adorn the land so recently the deposit for ashes and street 
sweepings But it is not my purpose in this report to partic- 
ularize, but rather to express general information. Several 



155 

sizable machine shops have been erected and put into use, three 
hundred and fifty to four hundred new dwelling houses have 
been constructed, showing that AVorcester is growing more 
rapidly perhaps than ever before. 

While we can say so much for the growth and development 
of Worcester, what shall we say of her decay in the death of 
her prominent citizens ? The first name we find on our list is that 
of Mr. Charles Hadwen, who died Tuesday night Feb. 8, 1881, 
at his residence on Hadwen Lane, aged 84 years. He was one 
of the prominent members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Had- 
wen was born in Newport, R. I., Jan 4, 1797. For a time he 
was a merchant in Providence R. I., and afterwards for several 
years a cotton manufacturer in the town of Scituate in that State, 
but came to Worcester in 1834 and purchased the farm pre- 
viously owned and occupied by Mr. Wing Kelley. Here Mr. 
Hadwen made his home, and here he remained until his death. 
Charit}' was one of the cardinal virtues of his life. He left three 
children, residents of Worcester, Mr. Obadiah B. Hadwen, Mrs. 
Dorcas B. Lee and Mrs. George A. Kimball. 

March 15th we have to record the death of Mr. Benjamin 
Flagg, which took place at the residence of his son, Aaron Flagg. 
in Springfield, Mass., where he was for the time stopping. Mr. 
Flaog was at the time if his death the oldest male citizen of 
Worcester, being in his 01st year. He was the son of Phineas 
Flagg, and grandson of Col. Benjamin Flagg who commanded a 
company of Minute Men that marched from Worcester for Lex- 
ington on the alarm April 19, 1775. Mr. Flagg was born June 
12, 1790, at the old family homestead on Millbury avenue, being 
a direct descendant of Benjamin Flagg one of the early settlers 
of Worcester who came from Watertown, where he was born 
June 25, ir)(;2. The confidence and esteem in which the late 
Mr. Flagg was held by his fellow townsmen may be seen by the 
fact that he was chosen Selectman in 1831 and 1837, Repre- 
sentative in 1835 and 1851, and Alderman in 1849 and 1853. 

The funeral of Col. Isaac N. Ross was held in the town of 
Holden March 29th. Although Col. Ross was not a native of 
Worcester County, but for some years a resident in it, he took 
an active part in public affairs ; was member of the legislature 



156 

in 1871 and 1872, and for a time one of the state directors of 
the Boston and Albany Railroad. He was deeply interested in 
the completion of the Boston Barre and Gardner Railroad, and 
was for some time the Superintendent of that road. He was 
born in Hanover N. H. August 22, 1824. When a young man 
he resided for a time in South Boston Mass., but in 1852 went 
to the state of Ohio where he engaged in mercantile business. 
In 1861 he was elected a member of the Ohio legislature. Being 
a strong Union man, and anxious to participate more actively 
in the conflict then going on. Gov. Todd sent him a commission, 
and with his characteristic promptness he raised two regiments 
for the war within two weeks, the 114th and 90th, and as Col. 
of the latter went at once to the front where he rendered excel- 
lent service, especiall}' at the battle of Stone River, where, while 
leading his men in the thickest of the fight he was severely 
wounded.* 

April 4th Mr. Nathaniel Waters died in Millbur}-. He was 
a native of that town, having been born April 2d, 1791, on the 
John Wood estate in the west part of the town. He was a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812. 

June 17th, Mr. Calvin Taft died at his home on Main street 
in this city. Although Mr. Taft had not been a resident of 
Worcester but about twenty years, he was favorabl}^ known as 
one of our most active and energetic business men. He was 
the son of JMr. Adolphus Taft of Roxburv Mass., born in Jan., 
1813. Mr. Taft was one of the founders of the Safe Deposit 
and Trust Company, and one of the Directors until incapacita- 
ted by failing health. 

Mr. Francis Harrington, a native of Worcester, died July 2d. 
He was son of Francis Harrington and born August 11, 1811. 
For more than forty years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits 
in Worcester ; a member of the City Council in 1855, and of the 
Board of Aldermen in the year 1860. 



* The remains of Colonel Ross were cremated at Washington, Penn., in 
accordance with his request. 



157 



A few days after the death of Mr. Harrington we have to 
record that of Mr. Nathaniel Curtis Moore, in his 81st year. 
He was son of Willard Moore a descendant of one of the early 
settlers of the town. 

Mr. Ephraim Beaman one of the oldest citizens at that time, 
died Saturday Aug. 18th. He was born in Princeton July 3d, 
1793, and carried on farming and stock raising on the old 
homestead until within a few years. 

Monday* Sept 5th ended the career of usefulness of one of our 
most unassuming painstaking historical students, Samuel Foster 
Haven LL. D., Librarian of the American Antiquarian Society 
for more than 43 years. Dr. Haven was born in Dedham Mass. 
May 2S,.]80G, son of Judge Samuel Haven of that place. He 
graduated at Amherst college in 1826, and for a short time 
thereafter resided in Lowell ; was chosen Librarian of the 
American Antiquarian Society* in 1838, from which time until 
stricken down with his last sickness, he applied himself with 
iincomnion zeal and earnestness to historical research. Aided 
by thorough mental training and a love for his work that knew 
no l)ounds, he has been able to leave behind him a lasting 
reputation, not only for his scholarly attainments and historical 
learning, but for his usefulness and excellent judgment in assist- 
ing to build up a public institution which is not onh' an orna- 
ment to Worcester but to the countr}'. 

The 8th day of September closed the life of one of our most 
remarkable citizens. Stephen Symonds Foster was born in 
Canterbury N. H. Nov. 17, 1809, a graduate of Dartmouth 
College, class of 1838, began to study for the ministry, but 
changed his mind feeling that he could not use his voice in the 
interest of any institution that was willing to protect Slavery 
and the Slave holder. He at once espoused the cause of Free- 
dom, and became one of the most radical of the reformers. His 
boldness and courage as an antislavery agitator was not exceed- 
ed even by Wm. Llo^d Garrison or Wendell Phillips. At the 
annual meeting of the American Antislaverj- Society held in the 
city of New York, in 1840, Mr. Foster introduced a resolution 
severely criticising the American church and clergy for their 
wrong position on the question of human slaver3'. To one of 



158 

his printed publications he gave the title, "The Brotherhood of 
Thieves, a true picture of the American Church and Clerg3\ 
Mr. Foster was a man of firm convictions and never hesitated 
to express himself in plain, unmistakable language ; and his 
hearers knew just where he stood, and just what he meant. Ilis 
life and public career, while contending with opposition from 
every side, being hustled by the mob, imprisoned in Hanover 
jail, all together would make an exceedingly interesting sketch 
contrasting the public sentiment at the present time with that 
of forty years ago. 

The death of Timothy Keese Earle occurred at his home in 
this city Oct. 1st. He was son of Henry Earle, and born in 
Leicester Jan 11, 1823. Mr. Harle was one of the most ener- 
getic and successful business men of our city, a zealous worker 
in whatever cause his convictions led him, but always frank and 
open in his speech and action. He w'as an earnest advocate 
for temperance reform, taking a prominent position in the pro- 
hibitory party, and twice (1880 and 1881) its candidate for 
Lieutenant Governor. 

In my report for the year 1880 attention was called to the 
printing of the Proprietor's Records, of Worcester, announcing 
the fact that we had published those records from the earliest 
date, 1667, to May 2, 1711). I take great pleasure in now sta- 
ting that through the exertions of INIr. Franklin P. Rice, the 
work has been continued to the year 1788, with nearly 300 plans 
illustrating the land grants of the early settlers, and that this 
work can be found in Vol. III. of the Society's publications. 
We have in press for Vol. IV. Worcester Town Records, from 
the year 1753 to 1783. 

In addition to the very valuable productions of this Society 
on local history, we have received the following volumes since 
the last report : Suffolk Deeds, publications of the Vermont 
Historical Society, History of Antrim N. H., Mr. Marvin's new 
edition, Worcester in the Rebellion, New Guide for Worcester, 
History of the wire business including Fence wire, only thirty 
copies of which were printed. Orderly Book of Colonel William 
Henshaw of Leicester during the Revolution, Memorial of Hon. 
Charles Allen, Memorial Biographies by the New England 



159 

Historic Genealogical Society, Reports of the Record Commis- 
sion of Boston, the Okl Worcester Magazine printed in 1787-8, 
published by Mr. Thomas in place of his paper, for the purpose 
of evading the heavy dutj' laid upon newspapers of that day ; 
Genealogical notes by Goodwin, New England Historical and 
Genealogical Register, Miscellania Genealogia et Heraldica, b}' 
Joseph Jackson Howard, Brights of Suffolk, England. 

Many other books bearing on local history and genealogy 
have been received within the year, all of which are now arran- 
ged and read}' for consultation. 

ELLERY B, CRANE, Chairman. 



REPORT ON ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS, PUBLICATIONS AND ENGRAVINGS. 

TWO of the most important arts known to mankind, wood 
engraving and printing, sprung up in Europe at about the 
same period of time. The earliest wood engraving,, claimed as 
authentic on account of its date, is said to have been made in 
1423 ; and the earliest print from movable type only dates back 
to 1454, leaving a space of time between these two great events 
of 31 3'ears. Unlike printing, wood engraving had an infancy, 
the rudeness of which may be seen in all the early illustrated 
prints. The first book illustrated to any considerable extent 
with wood cuts was printed in 1461 ; the earliest copperplate 
engraving was made the same 3-ear. 

The engraving knowm as the ^UU'hcim ^aittt ^ht'i.'&tayhfV, is 
supposed by some to be the oldest wood cut bearing a date ; 
but this date (1423) is declared to be false by at least three 
eminent critics, Mr. Koning, Mr. Sotzmann and Mr. Pinkerton, 
who claim that the true date is 1460. 

I have a book printed in the year 1495, which contains a num- 
ber of wood cuts of a similar style, but inferior as works of art, 
to the Saint Christopher. Both of these early prints being rude 
in their manner of execution and of the same general style of 
engraving, the question is naturally raised as to the probability 
of their being wrought at or near the same date. 



160 



Bat if 1423 is the true date of the Saint Christopher, the other 
was probably engraved nearly three quarters of a centur}- later, 
during which time it is fair to presume there ought to haA^e been 
some improvement or change of style, perhaps both, 

I also have another book printed in 15G4, sixty-nine 3'ears 
later, containing wood cuts far superior to those of 1495, indi- 
cating that the first two engravings mentioned were made at 
dates less than seventy years apart. 

Mr. H. E. Holt, in '*Notes and Queries" for 1868, makes the 
positive declaration that the Saint Christopher was executed b}' 
Albert Durer at Colmar in 1493. This would be but two years 
previous to the publication of the first mentioned book, which 
would in some measure account for the striking similarity of the 
two, which could not well be done if the other date (1423) 
is admitted to be correct. There are many facts and circum- 
stances to indicate that the Saint Christopher was engraved 
much later than 1423. In the first place the date is not au- 
thenticated beyond reasonable grounds Jbr suspicion, there being 
no other wood engraving with so early a date, but many having 
the appearance of being as old and even much older. It is 
claimed by some that this picture undoubtedly bore a date, but 
that it has sometime been changed from 1493 to 1423, a trick 
that would create no surprise in the more advanced stage of 
civilization, four hundred years later. 

It is a well established fact that cross-hatching M'as first em- 
ployed in 1486, on a frontispiece used in the Latin edition of 
Breydenbach's Travels ; but the Saint Christojiher contains that 
style of engraving, which shows that if 1423 is the true date 
more than sixty 3'ears elapsed before any more cross-hatching 
was done, which would seem improbable. 

It is also claimed that this picture was produced bj' a print- 
ing press with printer's ink, neither of which existed in 1423. 
It was printed on paper such as was used by Albert Durer be- 
tween 1480 and 1500, known b^' its peculiar water mark, viz, a 
bull's head with an upright line rising between tiie horns, sur- 
mounted b}' a flower or star. There is no record to show that 
paper thus marked was used in 1423. It is also apparent that 
the design and st^'le correspond with that of Durer ; and it is 



16 L 

admitted that there was no other wood cut in existence in 1423, 
or for lialf a centiirj after, that would in any degree compare 
with the Saint Christoplier as a work of art. In fact only four 
wood eugravini^s are known to have been made previous to 
1450, and but few up to the time when Durer began his remark- 
able career as a designer and engraver on wood. 

If it is admitted that the Saint Christopher was engraved as 
earh' as 1423, it must also be admitted that it was not equalled 
for at least seventy years, nor was its author discovered during 
that period. 

"With all these facts before us, it does not seem unreasonable 
to presume that Albert Durer was the designer and engraver of 
the Buxheim Saint Christopher, there being no other jjicture of 
special merit previous to his time, nor any engraver whose rep- 
utation has been preserved. 

CLARK JILLSON, Chairman. 



REPORT ON RELICS, COINS AND CURIOSITIES. 

IN the department of Relics, Coins and Curiosities, there has 
been some improvement during the last twelve months, as 
will appear evident to all who may be interested in examining 
the additions that have been made to our cabinet. It is believ- 
ed, however, that not so much attention has been given to this 
department of work as its object and design would seem to war- 
rant and demand. Possibh' as much has been accomplished by 
the members comprising this class as by those who are assigned 
to the other departments. By this classification of work, and 
with a determined purpose, much more probably could be done 
than has been thus far ; still, where so much improvement is 
manifest, so much information collected and put in permanent 
form, so manj' articles procured illustrating the usages and hab- 
its of past generations, it would be evidently unjust to speak of 
the work of these departments as a failure, or even as a useless 
and unnecessary classification, though all that their projectors 
contemplated may not have been fully realized. 



162 

The contributions to this department during the last year are 
considerable, all of which have their value, and some of them 
so rare that other specimens of like character are hardly to be 

obtained. 

In portraiture, we have been exceedingly fortunate in secur- 
ing the only known oil painting of the late Elihu Burritt. It was 
executed in this city in 1841, from life, by an artist then resid- 
ing here, named Elwell, who now resides in Springfield. This 
portrait is pronounced by those who knew the subject well, to 
be an excellent likeness of the departed scholar and reformer ; 
and The Worcester Society of Antiquity may be thought ex- 
ceedingly fortunate in possessing this rare work. It is also 
creditable to the city where we dwell, and where the subject of 
this portrait dwelt, and established his reputation as one of the 
greatest linguists of his time, that his portrait should be here, 
where future generations may behold the picture of him who was 
styled and recognized as the "Learned Blacksmith." 

In another department of art are specimens of early wood 
engraving, executed by Hans Leonard Schauftlin, a pupil of 
Albert Durer, presented to this Society by Mr. C. J. Sawtell 
of New York city, who received them from a friend residing in 
Germany. These specimens are quite rare, and are a very in- 
teresting study to all who are connoisseurs in art. In the Metro- 
politan Museum of Art, Central Park, New York city, may be 
seen two volumes, the illustrations of which are by this artist, 
and the date of their publication is there given as 1513. Hans 
Schaufflein was one of the best, as he was one of the earliest 
wood engravers, and his work was not infrequently taken for 
that of his instructor, Durer, whom he closely imitated, though 
probably not fully equalled. But his productions will go down 
to future generations as remarkable specimens of a beautiful art. 

Among our relics, and perhaps the most important of them 
all, is the contribution from Mr. Samuel H. Putnam, of the Com- 
pany chest of Company A, 25th Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers, containing books and pnpers relating to the service of 
the company in the war of the rebellion. Allied to, but preced- 
ing this, is a framed autograph of the fugitive slave, Thomas 
Simms, presented by Hon. P. I^mory Aldrich. These remind- 



163 

ers speak impressivnly of what was in days gone by, but fortu- 
nately never to return. 

Among the other contributions are geological specimens, 
from E. H. Marshall ; from Wm. A. Emerson, copy of a speci- 
men of pottery found by Dr. Schliemann at ancient Troy ; a 
piece of a ramrod from the ship Somerset, presented by Charles 
F. Rugg ; photograph of the old United States Hotel, presented 
b}^ Nathaniel Paine ; two small U. S. Flags, from Arlington 
Heights, a card of horse-nails, made by machinery at the Cen- 
tennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, Lamp used at the Massachu- 
setts State house, 1812, presented by Pardon A. Lee ; Flint- 
lock Ritle, from Israel Plummer ; two Antique Powder Horns, 
from Hon. Clark Jillson ; Straw Splitting Machine, from Thom- 
as A. Dickinson ; Colonial and Confederate currency', from E. 
B. Crane ; an Electrotype plate, handsomely framed, of the 
Declaration of American Independence, from Wm. A. Smith ; 
a Card tooth Machine, made by Capt. Thomas Lamb of Leices- 
ter, in 1828, presented by A. B. Prouty, and an Indian Hunt- 
ing Shirt from Oregon, by E. H. Marble. Dr. George Chand- 
ler presented a pair of Metalic Tractors, accompanied by the 
following interesting historical and biographical sketch : — 

"Dr. Elisha Perkins of Plainfield Conn., was the inventor of the Metalic 
Tractors, used by him in the cure and relief of nervous affections, rheuma- 
tism, sprains and other diseases. They were two small pointed instruments 
or pencils, one of steel and the other of brass, about three or four inches 
long, flat on one side and oval on the other. The operator held them be- 
tween his thumb and Angers and drew them backwards, lightly, over the 
part affected. 

Dr. Elisha Perkins was son of Dr. Joseph and Mary (Bushnell) Perkins, 
of Norwich, Conn., and Avas born Jan. 16, 1741 ; studied medicine with his 
father and settled in Plainfield in the practice of his profession. He soon 
became widely known for his invention of the Tractors, and for the intro- 
duction of a powerful antiseptic in his practice. He was a man of strong 
physical frame aud had great endurance of fatigue. It was said that he 
often rode daily on horseback sixty miles visiting his patients. He used 
no spirituous drinks, and indulged in only four or five hours of sleep nights. 

A grand daughter of his wrote, "Dr. Elisha Perkins was a physician of 
great skill and had a large practice which called him much from home, yet 
he founded and largely sustained an Academy in Plainfield which is still 
flourishing. He opened his own house for treatment of the sick, among 
whom was Calvin Goddard, afterwards Mayor and Judge, of Norwich, Ct., 



164 



who often said "When I left college I Avent to Plainfield in poor health and 
with all my worldly possessions in a pack on my back, and, if I have any 
goodness or hospitality in me I owe it to Dr. and Mrs. Perkins. 

In the war of the llevolution Plainfield sent many men into the field, and 
among them, said Miss Ellen D. Larned, the historian of Windham County, 
her most beloved physician. Dr. Elisha Perkins who served as surgeon in 
the 8th regiment under Col. Jedediah Huntington. Dr. Albigence "Waldo 
of Pomfret went as assistant surgeon. Dr. Perkins re-enlisted as surgeon 
in the campaign of 1776 under Col. John Douglas, Miss Calkins in her 
history of Norwich said this regiment, the 8th Connecticut, Avas the best 
equipped of any in the Colony, sporting for uniform a quantity of red-coats 
taken in a prize vessel. 

Dr. Perkins was expelled from the Connecticut Medical Society in 1797, 
on account of his invention and use. in his j)ractice, of the Metalic Tractors. 

To show his faith in his inventions, he went to New York city during the 
prevalence of yellow fever in that city, and after about four weeks of assid- 
uous labor among those sick with that dreadful disease, he took the fever 
himself and died of it on the 6th of September, 1799. 

Dr. Perkins married Sei^t. 23d. 1762, Sarah Douglas, of Plainfield, and by 
her had eight children, ancestors of a numerous race. His son, Benjamin 
Douglas Perkins, Avent to London, England, and established a "Perkins 
Institution" on the principles of tractoration, Avhich for a time was very 
popular, and by which he accumulated a handsome property." 

This clepartmeut recognizes, with gratitude to its friends, 

their various contributions in the past, and confidently hopes 

that in the future they will continue their generous aid, so that 

eventually the cabinet of our Society may become one of its 

most useful, as it will be one of the most attractive features of 

our organization. 

SAMUEL E. STAPLES, Chairman. 




165 



Index to Proceedings for 1881, 



Aldrich, P. Emory, 59. Uo. 

Allen, Rev. George, 23, 5'J, 112, 114, 

117. 
Ames, Edwin, 4, i), 150. 
Annual Address, 10-12. 
Assessment for 1882, 150. 

B 

Balanced Rock, 114. 

Baldwin, Charles C, 4. 

Bartlett, Thomas E., 4, 45. 

Bartlett William H., 4, 24, 123, 148. 

Barton, William S., !), 13, 5!). 

Bates, Joseph N,, 4. 

Bates, Theodore C, 4. 

Beaman, Ezra, sketch of, 125-144. 

Bemis, Merrick, 4, 

Bigelow, William H., 4, 122. 

Blackmer, Francis T., 4. 

Blake, Frank E., 4, 59. 

Bosworth, Fisher A., 4. 

Boyden, Elbridge, 150. 

Boyden, George E., 4. 

Brady, John G., 4, 44, 59, 

Brigham, John W,, 4. 

Brown, Dr. George W., 120. 

Brown, John, Pamphlet, 120. 

Burritt, Elihu, Portrait, 118, 121. 

C 

Chase, Charles A., 4. 
Clark, Charles W., 4. 
Clark, William D., 112. 
Clark, William L., 4, 112. 
Cold Winters, History of, 23. 
Colton, Reuben, 4 13, 112. 
Comins, Edward I, 4, 44,, 45. 
Committees, 5, 59, GO, 119. 



Cook, Norton L., 4, 59, 112, 114, 117 

121, 123, 150. 
Coolidge, Augustus, 4, 112. 
Cort, John, 4. 
Crane, EUery B., 4, 5. 9, 23, 59, 112, 

117, 121, 123, 148, 1.50. 
Crane Family Reunion, 122. 
Cummings, Herbert R., 112. 
Curtis, Albert, 123. 

D 

Death Penalty in Worcester County, 

44-45. 
Delinquent Members, 150. 
Department Reports, 151-184. 
Departments of Work, 4. 
Dickinson, Thomas A., 4, 14, 59, 117, 

123. 
Dodge, Benj. J., 4, 9, 117, 119, 121. 
Donations, 145-147. 
Dorr Rebellion, 59. 
Douglas, C. H. J., 123. 

E 

Earle, William H., 150 

Election of Members, 13, 23, 44, 45, 

59, 120, 122, 123. 
Emerson, William A., 114. 
Errata, 8. 

Estabrook, Charles W., 4. 
Estey. James L., 4, 112, 117, 119,120. 

123. 
Estey, George, 121. 
Excursion to Shrewsbury, 112-117. 



Fenno, Charles W., 4. 
Financial condition of Society, 59 
Forehand, Sullivan, 4, 123. 
Funds, Committee to raise, 60. 



166 



G I Lovell, Albert A., 4, 9, 59, Hi), 12;^, 

Garfield, President, death of, 120; 124,150. 

Newspaper obituaries, 122. r°''^"' ''^' ^- ^^'^• 

Lovell, Joseph, 123. 

I.yford, J, Chauneej', 4. 



Glasgow, Edward E., 4, 117. 
Gould, Abram K., 4, 122,123, 1-30. 



H 



M 



Mann, A. (>., 4. 
Marble, Albert P., 4, 44. 
Marble, Edward H. 4, 117. 
IMarshall, Elijah H., 4, 9, 123, 150. 
Miirvin, A. P., 44. 



Harding, A\'ni. B., 4. 

Harlow, Wm. T., 4, 44, 121, 150. 

Hastings, Thomas J., 149. 

Haven, Frances W., letter, 122 

Haven, S. F., Resolutions, 1 19, 120. Z7'u ^' ''•' "^^• 

Honeywood, St. John, 59. McLellan, J. A., 117, 119. 

Howe, William B., 4, 59. 
Hoyt, Albert H., 117. 
Hubbard, Hammond ^V., 23.112,119 
Hud.-on, Charles. .MfiiKirial Sketch, 
4(;-.-i,s. 

J 



Merriam, OHn I>. 4. 

Metcalt; Isaac N., 9, 119, 121. 

Morgan, Charles A., 4. 





Jordan, George A., 4, 



K 



(Jfficcr.s foi' l,s,S2. 5. 

t;ii /.I 1 , - G'Flyim, llichard, 4, 123. 

Jillson, Clark, 4, 5, 9, 13, 23, 44, 59, i 

60, 112, 117, 119, 121, 123, 150.' i P 

Jillson, Franklin C, 49, 59, 119 119 ,-, . 

123. ' " -^""^'^' ^'athaniel,4, 9, 13, 44,GO.I17, 

Johnson, Charles R., 4, 5, 45, 5!) ] ]9. r, , ^"?" 

120, 123. ■ ' Augustus E., 4. 112. 

Johnson, Theodore S., 4. Personal Recollections of the Louis- 

iana Campaign, 24. 
Perry, Joseph S., 149. 
Phelps, Henry. 4, 12.".. 

x' ' ^. a , „. Pickett, Josiah, I. 

Aent, Samuel W., 23. u ^^ ,, 

King, Henrv 4. .""'"' ^^^^"'^'^ ^^ - '' ''• '- ^'^■" 1^«- 

Kinney, Frank J.. 4. ]"T"- ^f'""' '' '''■ ''^• 

Knight. CharlesB., 23,50 IJ. 19, i ;\'' l'"^^^!"" ^'-""uttoe, GO. 

' -'''•'•'' ^^^' l^i' j Publications of the Society, C. 

L Putnam, Samuel 11., 112, 114, 119. 

Putnam, Otis A., 112. 
Lamb, Thomas Melvin, 4, 45, 112. 
Lancaster, Frank E., 4. 44. j R 

Lawrence, E. R. 4 5 5'i n<i i'>i i> i- . , 

' •' ^' '^' '^•'' il''' J-'l- , Radical Song of 17,S(;. 59. 

Lee, Pardon A., 4,9 59 11') ^■>^ ^-,l\ n 1 .• 

•-■*,.',>'.', 11^, 1.^1, l.K). Resolutions, 13, 1 lis 190 

Leonard, Manning. 4, 44, 121, 122. Rice, Dexter 150 ' ' 

Lexington, Battle commemorated, 24. Rice, Franklin P., 4. 5, 9 44 59 GO 
Librarian's Report, 124-147 no n- ,,-. ' ^> ->, t-*, 0.1, bO, 

Lon<^ C B 15() 112, 11<, 119,121,123,148,150. 

^''^•^•''^'- Ro'-N Alfreds., 4, .5, 9, 1.3, 117, 118, 

121, 122. 



167 



llviji-. ("harles J., t. 4,-), 121. 

S 

Sfuvtell, C. J., 118. 

Scott, Nelson R., 4, 112. 

Scagmve, Dixniel, 4, T), i), U!, 45, 112, 

11!), 150. 
Sewerage, utilization of, I'ai^or on, 

148-149. 
Shays' Rebellion, 6!) ; Paper, 61-111. 
Shunnvay, Edward Everett, 112. 
Shumway, Henry L., 4, ">, !), 2;5, 112, 

119, 123, 148, 150. 
Smith, Eleazer, Sketch of, 14-23. 
Smith, Henry M., 4, 5, 23, 45, 59, 

119, 121, 123. 
Sir.itli. .Tanu's A.. 4, 9, 59. I ]•>. 1 1'.), 

IL'I. 11'.-!. i:.(). 
Siiiitli. John (i.. I 12. 117. 
Smith. William A.. 4, 59. (K). 112, 
Sprague, A. 15. 11., 4, 23, 44. (10, 112. 

123. 
Stan.sfield, Thomas, 4,44. 
Staples, Samuel E.. 4, 5, 9, 23, 44, 5!), 
CO, 112, 117. lis, 11'.), 121, 14S. 
Starr, Frank F.. 1;!. 
Stedman, Henry F., 4, 5. 
Stiles. F. (;., 4. 

Stone, Augustus, 4, 117, 119, 121, 
123. 



Sumner, George, 4, 5, 9, 00, 112, 
118, 121, 123, 148. 



Thompson, Eben F., 4, 112, 

Thompson. Edward H„ 4. 

Three April Days, 25-43. 

Tolman, Albert, 4, 5. 

Tooke, John Home, 44. 

Town Records, vote to pxiblish, 44. 

Treasurer's Report, 123. 

Tucker, Ephraim, 4, 59, 112, 117, 119, 

123, 150. 
Tyler, Albert, 4, 5. 

U 

T"i)]iam, Henry P., 4. 

W 

W'aites, Alfred, 4, 112, 120. 
Ward, Artemas, Tomb of, 115-116. 
Warren, Edgar W., 13, 119. 
Washburn, Charles F., 4. 
Washburn & Moen Publications, 121. 
Weston, Byron, 13. 
Wilder, Harvey B., 4. 
Wolf Den, visit to, 1 19. 



jvo. X nil. 



RECORDS 



OF THE 



Court of General Sessions 



OT^° THE PEACE 

^ Fd-R THE County of Worcester, Massachuset 
From 1731 to ijsfi 



Edited by 
FRANKLIN P. RICE. 





V 



«► 




WORCESTER, MASS. : 
THE WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ANTIQUITV 

1883. 



U. S. A. CVII. 



ll 



$ 




Mr 





.1 



RECORDS 



\\\-<\<b'b-2\ C'hU'Se-A 



OF THE 



Coind of General Sessions 



OF THE PEACE 



For the County of Worcester, Massachusetts, 



From 1731 to 1737. 



Edited by 
FRANKLIN P. RICE. 



-.|%»v 




WORCESTER, MASS. : 
THE WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ANTIQUITY. 

1882. 

U. S. A. CVI. 



EDITION : 
TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE COPIES. 

No.J._3..4. 




Prefa 



ce. 



'npHIS VOLUME contains the Records of the Court of General 
Sessions of the Peace for Worcester County, from August, 
1 731, to the close of the May term, 1737. The Records of this 
Court and those of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the 
corresponding period, were entered in the same volume, but were 
afterwards kept in separate books. The matter here printed forms 
an important and interesting part of the early history of the County ; 
and illustrates in a degree the manners and morals of the people 
of that time. A brief introdu6lion and some notes have been 
added ; and a full index will be found at the end. 

Thanks are due William T. Harlow, Esq. and others in the office 

of the Clerk of the Courts, for information given, and for facilities 

afforded in procuring the copy for this volume. 

F. p. R. 



Introduction; 



INTRODUCTION. 



IN presenting the Records of the Court of 
General Sessions of the Peace for the County of 
Worcester, for the first six years of its existence, a 
brief review of the origin and growth of the judicial 
system in Massachusetts will not be out of place. 
Under the Charter of the Colony, the power of en- 
abling and enforcing laws for the government of its 
inhabitants was assumed by the Governor, Deputy 
Governor, Assistants, and the General Court which 
comprised all the freemen. The General Court met 
four times a year for the consideration of matters 
relating to the general government or individual 
welfare of the community, A monthly court was 
also held by the Governor, or in his absence, the 
Deputy Governor, and at least seven Assistants, for 
the purpose of transacting minor civil or criminal 
business that required immediate attention. This 
was termed the Court of Assistants. The Assistants 
numbered eighteen, and were ex officio Justices of 
the Peace. They discharged the functions of a 
Council to the Governor. 



8 Jnirodttflion. 

In 1634 the number of freemen had greatly in- 
creased, and some of them having removed to a 
distance, their meetings became inconvenient and 
difficult, and delegates were chosen to attend to the 
affairs of the several towns and distri6f s. This was 
the origin of the present representative system. 

Juries were first established in 1634.^ In 1639 a 
law was passed requiring records of the judgments 
of the courts and magistrates to be kept.^ 

It was not until several years after the establish- 
ment of the Colony that a regular system of Courts 
of Justice was setded, and even then, the powers 
and jurisdi6lion of some of them were left vague 
and indefinite. The principal of these were the 
General Court, the Court of Assistants, County 
Courts, Strangers' Courts, Inferior or Magistrates' 
Courts, Military Courts, and Courts of Chancery.^ 
Of these the General Court was supreme, the next 
in dignity being the Court of Assistants. Appeals 
lay to them from the inferior courts, and capital of- 
fences were tried before the Assistants. 

The County Courts, which were established in 
1639, had jurisdiction in all cases civil and criminal, 
except cases of divorce and crimes the penalty 
whereof extended to life, limb or banishment. They 



'Massachusetts Records, i.. ii8. ^ j^jj^^^gachusetts Records, i., 275. 
^Washhurn's Judicial History of Massachusetts. 



IntroduElion. 9 

were presided over by one or more of the Assistants 
belonging to the county in which the court was held. 
These courts were authorized to summon erand and 
petit jurors, and to appoint their own clerks and 
other officers. Among other duties they laid out 
highways, licensed houses of entertainment, and 
were "charged to see that there was an able minis- 
try and that it was well supported."^ Their fun6tions 
corresponded nearly with those of the Court of Gen- 
eral Sessions established later. They also consti- 
tuted the Courts of Probate. 

No further change of consequence in management 
or forms was made under the Colonial Government. 
After the accession of William and Mary and the 
reception of the Provincial Charter, an a61; was passed^ 
re-organizing the courts under a system which was 
continued with few modifications until the Revolu- 
tion. The courts then constituted were, in the order 
of their importance. Courts of Justices of the Peace, 
Courts of Quarter Sessions of the Peace, Courts of 
Common Pleas, a Superior Court, and a Court of 
Chancery. By an a6l passed in 1699 the name of 
the Courts of Quarter Sessions was changed to that 
of Courts of General Sessions of the Peace. 

The jurisdi6lion of the Courts of General Sessions 
was partly criminal and partly civil. They could 

'Washburn. Felt's Annals of Salem. ^November 25, 1692. 

2 



lo Introduction. 

hear and determine all matters relating to the con- 
servation of the peace, and the punishment of of- 
fenders; and trials were had by juries. In their 
civil capacity they had charge of the financial con- 
cerns of their respe6live counties, controlled the 
houses of corre6lion, granted licenses to innholders 
and retailers, and located and established highways, 
discharging the duties now performed by county 
commissioners. In short these courts had charge 
of the prudential affairs of the several counties; and 
a general jurisdi6lion in all criminal matters, the 
punishment of which did not extend to life, member 
or banishment.^ They were presided over by all of 
the Justices of the Peace for the county, with one 
or more of the Judges of the Court of Common 
Pleas. The powers and management of these courts 
remained much the same until the beginning of the 
present century. 

The County of Worcester was incorporated by an 
a6l passed on the 2nd of April, 1731, to take effeft 
the loth of the following July. The first session of 
the inferior courts was held on the loth of August, 
on which occasion the Rev. John Prentice of Lan- 
caster preached a sermon from the appropriate text, 
2nd Chronicles, xix., 6 and 7. 

The A61 of Incorporation of the County is here 
printed : 

' Washburn's Judicial History of Massachusetts. 



IntroduBion. 1 1 

An Act 

for ere6ling, granting and making a County in the 
Inland Parts of this Province, to be called the County 
of Worcester, and for establishing Courts of Justice 
within the same. 

§25 it cuactttt Iji? ijis 2£vccUcuc» X\)t toUcruoiiv, 
(Jtouncil anti iicprtscntatiijts in ©rncral <il:ourt 
asscmljlcti, aii^ tii> tijf ^utijocitw of tije same, That 

the Towns and Places hereafter named and expressed, That is to 
say, Worcester, Lancaster, We s thorough, Shrewsbury, South- 
boroiigli, Leicester, Ritthmd, and Lunenburg, all in the County of 
Middlesex; Mendon, Woodstock, Oxford, Sutton-, (including Nas- 
sananiisco) Uxbridge, and the Land lately granted to several Pe- 
titioners of Medfield, all in the County of Suffolk; Brookfield in the 
County of Hampshire, and the South Town laid out to the Nar- 
ragansett Soldiers ; and all other Lands lying within the. said Town- 
ships, with the Inhabitants thereon, shall from and after the tenth 
Day of yuly, which will be in the Year of our Lord One Thousand 
seven Hundred and thirty one, be and remain one intire and dis- 
tin6l County, by the Name of Worcester, of which Worcester to 
be th« County or Shire Town : And the Said County to have, use 
and enjoy all such Powers, Priviledges and Immunities, as by Law 
other Counties within this Province have and do enjoy. 

^nti ijc It furtf)cr nxactcti tJi> t!)C Stutljon't^ afore- 

SaflJ, That there shall be held and kept within the said County 
of Worcester yearly and in every Year, at the Times and Place in 
this A6t hereafter expressed, a Court of General Sessions of the 
Peace, and an Inferiour Court of Common Pleas, to sit at Wor- 
cester on the second Tuesdays of May and August, and the first 
Tuesdays of November and February yearly and in every Year, 
until this Court shall otherwise order : Also, That there shall be 
held and kept at Worcester within the said County of Worcester 
yearly and in every Year until this Court shall otherwise order, a 
Superiour Court of Judicature Court of Assize and General Goal 



1 2 Introdtcnion. 

Delivery, to sit on the Wednesday immediately preceeding the 
Time by Law appointed for the holding of the said Superior Court 
of Judicature Court of Assize and General Goal Delivery at Spring- 
field, within and for the County of Hampshire : And the Justices 
of the said Court of General Sessions of the Peace, Inferiour Court 
of Common Pleas, Superiour Court of Judicature, Court of Assize 
and General Goal Delivery respe6lively, who are or shall be there- 
unto lawfully commissioned and appointed, shall have, hold, use, 
exercise and enjoy all and singular the Powers which are by Law 
already given and granted unto them, within any other Counties 
of the Province, where a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 
Inferiour Court of Common Pleas, Superiour Court of Judicature, 
Court of Assize and General Goal Delivery, are already estab- 
lished. 

Provided, That all Writs, Suits, Plaints, Process, Appeals, Re- 
views, Recognizances, or any other Matters or Things which now 
are, or at any Time before the said tenth Day of J^niy, shall be 
depending in the Law within any Part of the said County of Wor- 
cester ; and also all Matters and Things which now are, or at any 
Time before the said tenth of J^uiy, shall be depending before the 
Judges of Probate within any Part of the said County of Worces- 
ter, shall be heard, tried, proceeded upon and determined in the 
Counties of Suffolk, Middlesex and Hampshire respe6lively, where 
the same are or shall be returnable or depending, and have or 
shall have Day or Days. 

Provided also. That nothing in this A61 contained, shall be con- 
strued to disannul, defeat, or make void any Deeds or Convey- 
ances of Lands, lying in the said County of Worcester, where the 
same are, or shall be before the said tenth of yitly, recorded in 
the Register's office of the respe6live Counties where such Lands 
do now lie ; but that all such Deeds or Conveyances so recorded, 
shall be held good and valid as they would have been had not this 
A61 been made. 

SlnTi l)c It fttrtijcr cnactcTr li» tijc Slutljoriti) aforr= 

StTlU, That the Justices of the Court of General Sessions of the 
Peace at their first Meeting in the said County of Worcester, shall 
have full Power and Authority to appoint some meet Person within 



Introdunion. i 



J 



the said County of Worcester to be Register of Deeds and Con- 
veyances within the same, who shall be sworn to the faithful Dis- 
charge of his Trust in the said Office, and shall continue to hold 
and exercise the same according to the Directions of the Law, 
until some Person be elefted by the Freeholders of the said County 
of Worcester, who are hereby impowered to choose such Person 
on the first Thursday of September next ensuing, by the Methods 
in the Law already prescribed, to take upon him that Trust : And 
until such Register shall be so appointed by the said Justices and 
sworn, all Deeds and Conveyances of Lands lying within any Part 
of the County of Worcester, which shall be recorded in the Reg- 
ister's Office of the respe6live Counties where such Lands do now 
lie, shall be held and deemed good and valid to all Intents and 
Purposes as to the recording thereof. 

^n^ lie It furtijrr cnactcti i)^ tijr ^iit<)oritfi afore- 

ScllTf, That the Methods, Dire<5lions and Proceedings by Law 
provided as well for the ele6ting and choosing a Register of Deeds 
and Conveyances as a County Treasurer, which Officers shall be 
appointed in the same Manner as is by Law already provided, on 
the first Thursday of September next, and also for the bringing for- 
ward and trying any A6tions, Causes, Pleas or Suits both Civil and 
Criminal in the several Counties of this Province and Courts of 
Judicature within the same, and choosing of Jurors to serve at the 
Courts of Justice, shall extend and be attended, observed and put 
in Pra6tice within the said County of Worcester, and by the Courts 
of Justice within the same : Any Law, Usage or Custom to the 
contrary notwithstanding. 

Provided always. That the Inhabitants of the several Towns and 
Places herein before enumerated and set off a distin6l County, 
shall pay their Proportion to any County Rates or Taxes already 
made and granted, in the same Manner as they would have done, 
had not this A61 been made. 



RECORDS 



OF THE 



Court of General Sessions 



OF THE PEACE. 



A Copy of the 

General Commission for the Peace 

for the County of Worcester 



^ Seal \ 



George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain 
France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c' 

To our Trusty and well beloved John Chandler Joseph Wilder 
\Villiam Ward William Jennison Daniel Taft John Chandler Jun"" 
Benjamin Willard Samuel Wright Josiah Willard Joseph Dwight 
Samuel Dudley Henry Lee and Nahum Ward Esq" Greeting 

Know ye that we have assigned you and every of you our 
Justices to Keep our Peace in our County of Worcester within our 
Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, and to Keep 
and Cause to be Kept the laws and Ordinances made for the good 
of the Peace and for the Conservation of the Same and for the 
Quiet Rule and Government of our People in our Said County in 
all and every the articles thereof according to the force fform and 
effe6l of the Same and to Chastise and Punish all Persons offend- 
ing against the form of those laws & ordinances or any of them 
in the County aforesaid or according to the form of those laws and 
ordinances Shall be fitt to be done, and to Cause to Come before 
you or any of you, all those thatt Shall breake the peace or at- 
tempt anything against the Same, or that Shall threaten any our 



1 8 Court of General Sessions. 

People in their person or in burning their houses to find Sufficient 
Security for the peace or for the good behaviour towards us and 
our people and if they shall refuse to find such security then to 
cause them to be Kept Safe in Prison untill they shall find the 
same and to do and perform in the County aforesaid all and what- 
soever according to the laws and Ordinances of our Province afore- 
said or any of them, Justices of the Peace may or ought to do & 
perform and we Command you and every of you that you Deli- 
gently intend the Keeping of the Peace and of the laws and Ord- 
inances aforesaid ; and that at such certain days and places as are 
or shall be by law Stated and appointed (whereof any of you The 
said John Chandler Joseph Wilder William Ward & William Jen- 
nison always to be one) enquire by the Oaths of good and Care- 
full men of our Said County by whom the Truth may be the better 
Known of all and all manner of Thefts, Trespases, Riots, Routs, 
and unlawfuU assemblys whatsoever, and all and singular other 
misdeeds and offences of which by law Justices of the peace in 
their Generall Sessions may or ought to Inquire, by whomsoever 
or howsoever done and Perpetrated, or which shall hereafter hap- 
pen howsoever to be done or attempted in the County aforesaid, 
Contrary to the form of the laws and Ordinances aforesaid, made 
for the Common good of our province aforesaid and the People 
thereof, and to Inspect alllndidments So before you taken or to 
be Taken, and to make and Continue the Process thereupon 
against all and every person or persons so Indi6led before Shall 
hereafter happen to be Indi6led before you untill they be appre- 
hended render themselves or be outlawed, and to hear and De- 
termine all & Singular the said Thefts, Trespasses, Riots, Routs, 
unlawfuU assemblys, and all and Singular Other the premises, and to 
do therein as to Justice appertaineth according to the laws Statutes 
and Ordinances aforesaid ; Saving to us the amerciaments and 
Other things thereof to us belonging ; and we likewise Command 
that at such days and places as are or shall be by law appointed 
for holding a Court of General Sessions of the peace as aforesaid 
and Such and So many good and lawful! men of the County afore- 
said you cause to come before you or any Three or more of you 
as aforesaid, by whom the Truth in the premises may be Known 



Worcester County, Massachusetts. 19 

and Inquired of; In testimony whereof we have Caused the 
PubHcke Seal of our Province aforesaid to be hereunto affixed 

Witness Jonathan Belcher Escf our Cap' Generall and 
Governour in Chief in and over our Said Province at Boston the 
thirtyth day of June 1731 in the fifth year of our reigne 

J Belcher 

By order of the Gov"" with the advice and Consent of the 
Councill J. WiLLARD Secry. 

John Chandler John Chandler Jun"" Joseph Dwight and Sam- 
uel Dudley Esqrs 

Sworn in Councill July i^' 1731 J Willard Secy 

Joseph Wilder William Ward William Jennison Daniell Taft 
Samuel Wright Josiah Willard Henry Lee & Nahum Ward Esq's 
Sworn by Dedimus from his Exce'y the Gov'' before us 

John Chandler John Chandler Jr Joseph Dwight 

A true Copy from the Originall Commission 

attes' John Chandler Jr Cler Pac. 



NOTES. 



Of the persons named in the foregoing Commission, John Chandler, Jo- 
seph Wilder, William Ward and William Jennison were the Justices of the 
Court of Common Pleas for the County. John Chandler of Woodstock, 
(now in Connecticut but formerly included in Worcester County) was a man 
of considerable prominence. He was the first Judge of Probate for the 
County; Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and of the Court of 
General Sessions; Colonel of the regiment of militia; Representative, and a 
member of his Majesty's Council. He died in 1743. 

Joseph Wilder was a prominent citizen of Lancaster, and a man of influ- 
ence in the County. He became Chief Justice on the death of John Chand- 
ler in 1743. 

William Ward of Southborough was born in 1680 and died (probably) 
in 1745. He was a Colonel of the militia. 

William Jennison lived in Worcester, where he held various offices of 
trust. He died in 1741. 



20 Court of General Sessions. 

Of the Justices of the Peace, Daniel Taft resided in Mendon ; Benjamin 
Willard in Hassanamisco, now Grafton; Samuel Wright in Rutland; Josiah 
Willard in Lunenburg; and Henry Lee in Worcester. 

Nahum Ward of Shrewsbury was a lawyer of some note,.and subsequently 
became one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. He was father 
of Major General Artemas Ward of revolutionary fame. 

John Chandler Junior was born in Woodstock in 1693, and removed to 
Worcester in 1731. He was Clerk of the Courts, Register of Deeds, etc.; 
and succeeded to most of the offices held by his father. He died in 1763. 

Joseph Dwight was born in Hatfield in 17^3, and graduated at Harvard 
College in 1722. He Hved for some years in Brooktield, and represented 
that town in the Provincial Legislature. He was Speaker of the House of 
Representatives in 1749, and at one time a member of the Council. Dis- 
tinguished for his military talents he attained the rank of Brigadier General, 
and for his bravery at the siege of Louisburg. where he commanded a regi- 
ment, was publicly commended by Sir William Pepperell. Dwight was 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Worcester from 
1743 to 1750, and afterwards held the same office in Berkshire County. He 
died at Great Barrington in 1765. 

Samuel Dudley was one of the largest land owners of Sutton, and a man 
of infiuence and prominence. He was born in Concord in 1666, and died 
in 1775 at the great age of 109 years. 



Worcester County, Massachusetts. 21 



Worcester ss 

Memorandum Worcester Aug^* 12"' 1731 

Att y^ first meeting of the Justices of tlie County aforesaid, John 
Chandler Jun'' Esq was appointed Register of Deeds for Said 
County and Sworn to the faithful! Discharge of the Said Trust be- 
fore all the Justices by the Hon''''' John Chandler Escjr The first 

Justice 

Attestator John Chandler J"' Cle Pac : 



August 13* M'' Jonathan Houghton of Lancaster was appoint- 
ed & Sworn County Treasurer 

Attest John Chandler J' Clck 

Same day John Chandler Jun"" Esqr Register of Deeds gave 
bond to the County Treas' with two Suretys in five hundred, for 
his a6ling faithfully as Register of Deeds This was done by order 
of the Justices Attes' John Chandler J' Cler Pac 



Worcester ss Anno Regiti Regis Georgij Secu7idi 
nunc Macrnice BrittanicB Francice et Hibernics 
Quinto ^ 

Att a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace held 
at Worcester for and within the County of 
Worcester The Second Tuesday of Aug^* being 
the Tenth day of Said Month Annoq Dom 



John Chandler 
Joseph Wilder 
William Ward 
William Jennison . 
Daniel Taft 
John Chandler Jun 



Quo: 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

Samuell Wright 
Josiah Willard 
Joseph Dwight 
Samuel Dudley 
Henry Lee 
Nahum Ward 



> Estf 



Esq"" 



Coroners, M'' Joseph Wilder M"" Seth Chapin Jun"" M'' Jo- 
seph Wright 



Grand Jurors that were Returned & Served are as follows viz' 

Worcester M'' Gershom Rice 
Mendon M' James Keith 
Brookfield M' Joseph Banister 



Oxford M'' Isaac Lernard 
Leicester M"" Daniell Denney 
Shrewsbury M"' David How 
Uxbridge M^ Robert Taft 



Lancaster M'' Ebenezer Wilder 

Woodstock M"" Joseph Baron 

Westboro' M'' Thomas Rice 

foreman 

Sutton Parcivall Hall 

Southboro' M"" John Woods 

RutUand M' Joseph Stevens 

Lunenburg M'' Edward Hartwell 



Each Served Two Days 



24 Court of General Sessions. \^t^^S^ 

Phillip Chase of Sutton in y^ County of Worcester Husbandman 
and Others Came into Court and Complained that Solomon John- 
son Resident in Said Shrewsbury Gent in the Night following the 
ii"* Instant was Guilty of y*^ Breach of y*^ peace by Stocking him 
the Said Chase on the face with his hand and of Speaking Insult- 
ing and threating words, The Said Solomon Johnson appeared 
before y*^ Court and pleaded not Guilty and in the Court behaved 
himself in a very Insolent Rude and unbecoming manner both to 
the Court & Officers thereof Capt Thomas Baker and Said Chase 
were Sworn as Evidences in the Case and after due Examination 
the Case being fully heard the Said Solomon Johnson is Judged to 
be Guilty of the Breach of y^ peace in Striking Said Chase and 
useing threatning words and thereupon order that for Said offence 
he pay as a fine to our Sovereign Lord the King &61 Twenty Shill- 
ings and for his Said Rude and Insulting Behaviour he also pay as 
a fine to our said Lord the King the Sum of fourty Shillings that 
he give bond with Two Suretys for his peacable and good be- 
soiomon Johnson havlour till thc ucxt Court of General Sessions of 
principal 5(11 ^j-^g pgacc to bc holdcn at Worcester &a the first 
^jrep^^cJo'by " Tuesday of November next viz' The Said Solomon 
Surety 25 1 Each johusou as principall In y*^ Sum of fifty pounds & 
the Suretys in Twenty five pound Each and Pay Costs & Stand 
Committed till Sentance be Performed Costs Taxed at one pounds 
nine Shillings The Said Solomon Johnson appealed from this 
Sentance unto the Court of assize and Generall Goal Delivery to 
be holden at Worcester the 4* Wednesday of September next and 

Chase & Baker Entered iuto Recognizance with Two Suretys to 
S^^ppelfaVwi'™^ prossecute his appeal to Effed and to abide and 
perform y^ order or Sentance of Said Court thereon 
and to be of y^ Good behaviour in the meantime 



Joseph Crosby of Worcester in the County of Worcester Sadler, 
was bound over to this Court by M'' Justice Jenison on the Com- 
plaint of Isaac Miller of Shrewsbury In Said County Husbandman 
for abusing & Striking him &<Sl : as by the Complaint & writt will 



173 I- 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 25 

appear said Miller being bound by Recognizance to prosecute his 
Complaint the Case was delivered to the Grand Jury who Did 
upon their Oaths Return Ignoramus, whereupon Said Crosby was 
Delivered from his Recognizance, and the Court adjudged Said 
Miller to pay Cost of Court Taxed at four pounds nineteen Shill- 
ings & Tenpence 



John Hazeltine of Sutton in the County of Worcester Husband- 
man upon y*^ Complaint of Christian Indian Woman Widdow of 
George Misco late of Hassanamisco, for his Said Hazeltines Sell- 
ing Strong Drink to y*^ Indians Contrary To law^ (&6t was bound 
over to this Court by M'' Justice Jenison to answer to Said Com- 
plaint The Court having Considered the Case order that his 
Recognizance be Continued to the next Court of Generall Sessions 
of y^ peace to be holden at Worcester for y'^ Said County of Wor- 
cester y'^ fs' Tuesday in Novemb"" next 

And then y^ Court was adjourned to y^ 4"" Wednesday in Sep' 
Next att Ten oClock in y^ forenoon. To y^ House of William 
Jenison Esq in Worcester 

attest' John Chandler Jr Cler pac 

' See Note on page 28. 
4 



Att a Court of Generall Sessions of y® Peace held 
at Worcester for and within the County of 
Worcester by adjournment on Wednesday the 
2 2^ day of September 1 73 1 



PRESENT 



John Chandler Joseph Wilder William Ward & W" Jenison 
Esq" Jus' of y^ pea' & Quo : 

John Chandler Junr Samuell Wright Joseph Dwight Samuel 
Dudley & Henry Lee Esqs J p 



The Several Towns having made Return of their Several Choices 
for a Register of Deeds and a County Treasurer according to law, 
William Ward John Chandler Jun'' & Joseph Dwight Esqrs were 
appointed a Committee to view & Sort the Same and Report To 
y^ Court who were Chosen, The Said Committee Having Sorted 
the votes of the freeholders for a Register of Deeds made Report 
that John Chandler Jun' Esq was Chosen by a very great majority 
of Votes The Said Committee having Sorted the Votes Returned 
for a County Treas' made Return that Mr Jonathan Houghton was 
Chosen by a great majority of votes The Said persons were Re- 
speftively Sworn to the faithfuU Discharge of their Respedlive 
offices in Court and the Register of Deeds gave Bond with Suretys 
according to Law 

Attes' John Chandler Jun Cler pac 



The Court order that a House of the following Dimensions be 
built at the Charge of the County for a Prison House and Prison 
namely Thirty six feet Long Seventeen feet wide fourteen feet post, 



i73i-i Worcester County, Massachusetts. 27 

The Prison End to be Studed with Timber of Five Inch & four 
Inch and placed within five inches of one another and that the 
Joyce be of the same bigness and placed at the Same Distance 
and that it l)e planked within and without with good plank Spiked 
on, and that there be a Dungeon under the same and that the 
Other End of the House be finished after the usuall manner of 
Dwelling Houses and that there be a Sutable Prison Yard of 
Twenty feet Deep & thirty feet Long against the House made with 
boards nailed To Sutable posts about Eight or Ten feet high that 
there be a Chimney built in y^ Dwelling part with a fire Room be- 
low and one in the Chamber — and William Jenison Henry Lee 
and Nahum Ward Esqrs are appointed a Committee to See the 
work be done and at as Cheap a lay as may be and it is further 
ordered that the Said Prison House &61 be Sett not Southward of 
the land given by William Jenison Esq to the County nor North- 
ward of the Reverend m'' Burrs Barn and on the Westerly Side y"^ 
Highway in the most Convenient place 

The Court order that untill the prison be built That the House 
of William Jenison Esq by his consent be the Prison and that a 
Sutable Cage be built in y"^ Back part thereof and that the prison 
yard Shall Extend Twenty feet on the South Side and Elast End 
thereof and so far on the North Side and West end thereof as shall 
Include y^ House & Office. The Court also order a County 
Tax or assesment on y^^ Several Towns amounting to 303''' : 5,, 4*^ 
being a Tax eaquall with the previous Tax and That the Clerk 
send out warrants accordingly Requiring the Sele6lmen or assessors 
of each Town to assess the Same and that it be Colle6led and 
paid into the County Treasury at or before the last day of march 
next for defraying" the Charges of the County 



(28) 



NOTE. 

Penalty for Selling Strong Drink to the Indians. — (See page 25.) 
In 1693 the General Court passed "An A<51 for the better Rule and Govern- 
ment of the Indians in their Several Places and Plantations, To the Intent 
that the Indians may be forwarded in Civility and Christianity; and other 
Vices the more effectually Suppressed amongst them:" 

One clause of this acft was : 

" That no Person or Persons whosoever, shall diredtly or indiredlly, 

sell, truck, barter or give to any Indian, any strong Beer, Ale, Cyder, Perry, 
Rum, Brandy, or other strong Liquors, by what Name or Names soever 
called or known ; on Pain of forfeiting the sum of forty Shillings for every 
Pint; and proportionably for any greater or lesser Quantity so sold, truck'd 
bartered, given or delivered to any Indian diredlly or indiredlly as aforesaid ; 
upon Convidlion thereof before a Justice of the Peace where the Penalty 
does not txcetd forty Shillings; and if it exceed that .Sum, at the Sessions 
of the Peace to be holden for the same County where the Offence is com- 
mitted : one Moiety of all such Forfeitures to be unto their Majesties, for and 
towards the Support of the Government; and the other Moiety to him or 
them that shall inform and prosecute the same by Bill, Plaint, or Informa- 
tion. And if the Offender be unable, or shall not forthwith pay and satisfy 
the said Penalty or Forfeiture, then to be committed to the Goal of the 
County; there to remain until he pay and satisfy the same, or suffer two 
months Imprisonment. 

"Provided, This hA shall not be intended or extend to restrain any Adl 
of Charity for relieving any Indian (bona fide) in any sudden Exigent or 
Faintness or Sickness, not to exceed one or two Drams; or by Prescription 
of some Physician in writing, or by allowance of a Justice of Peace." 

The accusation and affirmation of an Indian were received as evidence. 

Intoxication in Indians was punished by fine or whipping; and liquor 
found in their possession was seized. 



Worcester ss Anno Reg7ii Regis Gcorgij Secundi 
7iunc Maznics Britta7iicE Francis et Hiberni^ 
Quinto"^ 



Att a Court of General Sessions of y® peace held 
at Worcester for & within y*^ County of Wor- 
cester y® i^"^ Tuesday of Nov'" being y® 2'' day 
of Said Month Annoq Dom 1731 

PRESENT 

John Chandler Esq Joseph Wilder Esq W"' Ward Esq W"' Jen- 
ison Esq of y^ Quo'" 

Jno Chandler J'' Sam" Wright Joseph Dvvight Samuel Dudley- 
Henry Lee & Nahum Ward Esq J p : 

The Same Grand Jury attended as did y'^ first Court, and At- 
tended one day 



The Court order That the floors in y^ Prison End of y^ House 
ordered to be built at the last Court be laid with plank and that 
there be a Cellar under y^ Same and an oven in the Chimney and 
it is left to the Committee to plank or board y^ Outsides as they 
think proper 



The Reverend M' David Parsons of Leicester Preferred a Peti- 
tion or Complaint to this Court Shewing that in ys year 1721 he 
accepted the Call of the Church and Town of Leicester to y^ Gos- 
pell ministry among them with an Incouragement of an Hon" 



30 



Court of General Sessions. 



\ 



novemiieb 
Tekm, 



Support of Seventy five pounds &61— from year to year In which 
Service y^ Said Petitioner has Continued Ever Since according to 
his poor Capacity Heartyly endeavoured to be faithfull, butt that 
through the negligence of the Town he has not Rec** any part of 
his dues from them since march : i 730 butt that they have been 
wholly Deficient Since that time praying for Reliefe according to 
the Diredions of y^ good and wholesome laws of this province, 
which petition being duly Considered The Court order and Dire6l 
the Sele6lmen of y<= Town of Leicester be by warrant under the 
Clerks hand Convented before y^ Court of General Sessions of y*^ 
peace to be holden at Worcester for and within the County of 
Worcester on the first Tuesday of February next To answer To 
Said Petition ^ 



John Hazeltines Recognizance being Continued 
to this Court by which he was bound To answer 
to the Complaint of Christian Indian Widdow 
of George Misco &61 for His said Hazeltines 
Selling Strong Drink to y'^ Indians Contrary to 
law &61 The Said John Hazeltine appeared in 
Court and to y^ Complaint Pleaded not Guilty 
and. put himself on his Country for Tryall The 
Complainant also appearing in Court affirming 
That the said John Hazeltine was Guilty of Sell- 
ing Great Quantitys of Strong [drink] to Indians 
and the Case after a full hearing was Committed 
to y^ Jury who. were Sworn to Try y^ Same ac- 
cording to law who Returned y*^ following Ver- 
di6l viz* We find the Defendant Guilty of giving order for one 
Jill of Rum to be delivered to an Indian Its therefore considered 
by the Court that the said John Hazeltine pay a fine of Ten Shill- 
ings one half to his majesty the other half to the Informer and pay 
Costs Taxed at Seven pound nine Shillings & Two pence, which 



JURY 
Capt Joniis Rice 
Capt Richard Moore 
Mr Epm Child 
Mr Bezaleel Sawyer 
Mr Richard Ward 
Mr Comfort Barna 
Mr Perez Rice 
Mr Peter Smith 
Mr Wm Brown 
Mr Isaac Anisdeu 
Mr Eli Ball 
Mr Nathan Dyke 



' See Note, next page. 



173 I- i Worcester County, Massachusetts. 31 

fine and Costs he paid down in Court and the Same was Delivered 
to the Respe6live persons to whom y'^ Same is Due : Excepting y^ 
Kings part which is in y*^ hands of y*^ Clerk. 

and then the Court was adjourned without day 

Attes' John Chandler J"" Cler p*' : 

memorandum a By law of the Town of Woodstock was first 
approved of y*^ Court [ ] 

att Jn" Chandler Jr Cle pac 



NOTE. 



Case of the Reverend David Parsons. — (See page 29.) The Rev. 
David Parsons, whose troubles frequently claimed the attention of this Court, 
was a brother of the Rev. Joseph Parsons, a large land holder (but not a 
resident) of Leicester. They were grandsons of Joseph Parsons, the emi- 
grant, who was in Springlield in 1636. David was born at Northampton, 
February I. j68o; and graduated at Harvard College in 1705. He became 
the minister of Maiden in 1708; and in 1721, in consequence, it is said, of 
some difficulty with his people, he accepted the call of the Church of Leices- 
ter and removed to that town. The connection then formed proved unfortu- 
nate in the extreme : a serious quarrel began and kept the town in tumult 
for twelve or more years. Blame probably rests with both parties. The 
principal ground of the minister's complaint was the nonpayment of his sal- 
ary. The town in extenuation declared that they were unable through pov- 
erty to meet his requirements; and offered other excuses to put off his de- 
mands. The fadt seems to have been that Mr. Parsons was not agreeable 
to a large portion of his parishioners, and they probably did not exert them- 
selves with proper zeal to secure his support, hoping that their neglefl would 
drive him to resign his charge. He, with the common understanding of the 
time that a settlement was for life, resisted these attempts and slights to the 
utmost. 

Mr. Parsons petitioned the Cleneral Court for relief, and entered com- 
plaints from time to time in the Courts. Counter petitions were presented, 
and at one time the General Court passed an adl relieving the town from 
his support, which Governor PjeJcher vetoed. A dangerous schism in the 
church and town followed. Finally the quarrel became so scandalous that 
in the interest of good order, other towns interfered; and in 1735, a Council 



3 2 Court of General Sessions. 

was called by mutual agreement, and the result was the dismission of Mr, 
Parsons. He left the place, but returned after a year or two. and resided 
there until his death which occurred in 1743. He Ijrought suits against the 
town after his return. 

He carried his resentment against his former parishioners to the grave; 
and according to his request was buried in the center of an open held owned 
by him, at a distance from the general l^urial ground. In the couise of time 
his grave was plowed over. The stone was used in Iniilding a chimney for a 
house in Leicester; and a few years since the inscription was seen on the 
inside wall of an ash hole. It was as follows : 

In memory of 

Rev. Mr. DAVID PARSONS 

who after many years of 

Hard Labour and Suffering 

was laid here 

oa. 12. 1743 

aged si.xty-tliree 

An account of the Parsons controversy will be found in Washburn's His- 
tory of Leicester. 



Worcester ss Aitiio Regni Regis Gcorgij Secundi 
niLiic MagnicE Brittaiiice Francice et HibemiKe 
Quiiito"^ 

Att a Court of General Sessions of the peace held 
at Worcester for & within the County of Wor- 
cester the first Tuesday of February being the 
first day of Said Month Annoq Dom 1731 



John Chandler 
Joseph Wilder 
WILLL4M Ward 

WlLLLAM JkNISON 

Daniel Taft 



JUSTICES PRESENT 
^ Esqrs Jus 



L of Peace 
' & 
Quorum 

I Esqrs 



John Chandler Jun' ) Justices 



JOSIAH WiLLARD 

Joseph Dwight 
Samuel Dudley 
Henry Lee 
Nahum Ward 



Esq" 
Justices 



Names of the Grand Jurors who ser\ed this Court 



viz' 



M"" Thomas Rice M' Isaac Learned 

foreman 

M"" Gershom Rice M' Parcivall Hall 

W Ephraim Wilder M"" Daniel Denny 

M"" James Keith M' John Woods 
M'' Joseph Banister 

Each attended Two days 



W Daniel How 

M' Joseph Stevens 
M' Robert Taft 
M' Edward Hart- 

[well 



34 Court of General Sessions. Y^Tll^'i'f 

Whereas at a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace Held at 
Worcester for the County of Worcester by adjournment on Wed- 
nesday the 22'' day of September last past The Justices Then or- 
dered a Prison or Goal to be built, and appointed a Committee to 
See the Same Effe6led and Nothing as yett being done in the af- 
faire This Court now order that John Chandler Jun'' be added to 
said Committee and that they do with all Convenient Speed at the 
Charge of the County Build & Erecl a good Sufficient and Sub- 
stantiall Prison or Goal with a house to the Same att the place 
where it was formerly Stated in Worcester, of the following Di- 
mensions In Lieu of that formerly ordered to be built namely 
fourty one feet Long Eighteen feet wide and Eight feet Studd that 
that part which is for a Goal or Prison be Eighteen feett Square 
and made of good Substantiall White Oak Timber That the Studs 
be four Inches thick five Inches broad and placed within five 
Inches one of another all round the Said Goal that there be a 
lower Summer^ & floor of Joyce and a Chamber Summer & floor 
of Joyce The Joyce of the Same bigness with the Studds and placed 
the Same Distance asunder, That it [be] planked within Side with 
full Inch & half Plank and with out Side with full Two Inch Plank 
and to be spiked on so as to every plank of Twelve Inches wide 
against Every Studd there be Two Spikes at least that the floor be 
of Two Inch Plank Spiked on and the lower floor lined with boards 
That there be Sutable Grates Doors and bolts & Locks to it & Di- 
visions so as to make three Rooms in all and a Sufficient Dungeon 
under the Same built as y*^ Committee may think proper That 
the other Part of the House be finished in all Regards after the 
manner of a Dwelling house Compleat with a Chimney Cellar and 
oven The Ruff" of the whole house to be of the fashion Called 
Gamber Ruff' the out Sides & Ruff to be boarded Claboarded 
& Shingled as usuall and the Prison or Goal also to be Claboarded 
save that Round the bottom of the whole y' may be boarded about 
Two feet high as y*^ Committee may order and that there be made 
adjoining to the Goal or Prison a Yard of Eight feet high with 
boards to be Thirty feet Long and Twenty feet Wide, and the 

'A central floor limber, also called a summer-tree. 



1 73 I "2. 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 35 

Committee or major part of them are hereby Impowered to lett the 
Same out To Such person or persons as may appear to perform 
the Service or to have it Done in Such other manner as they may 
think proper, and in the mean time and in Heu of the prison al- 
ready appointed this Court order and appoint that the Cage (as so 
Called) already built be Removed to the Chamber of the house of 
Daniel Haywood in Worcester and be the Goal till Said Chamber 
be Sutably finished for a Goal and that then Said Chamber be y^ 
Goal for Said County and Said Cage remain as one of the appart- 
ments thereof, untill the Prison &<5l now agreed upon be built and 
that Twenty feet on Ends & back side the House and four perch 
on the South Side the House be accounted the Prison Yard. 

and it is Further ordered by this Court that the Clerk doe and 
he is hereby ordered to Issue out a Warrant Directed To the 
Sheriff^ Requiring him to Remove all Such Prisoners as may be 
in the Goal heretofore appointed to the Goal now appointed, ^ 

Which was done the 3'' Day of Feb-^' Instant 



A List of the Presentments made by y*" Grand Jurers to this 
Court viz' The Grand Jury for the body of the S*^ County do pre- 
sent [ ] The Towns of Worcester Brookfield Uxbridge 
Southborough & Lunenburg Each and Every of them for their not 
being provided with Stocks as the Law Requires* 

2ndiy -pi^g Towns of Brookfield Leicester Southborough and 
Lunenburg Each and Every of them for their not being provided 
with weights & measures as the law Requires. 

3'y The Town of Rutland for not being provided with weights 
as the law Re(juires. 

^thiy 'Y\^Q Towns of Uxbridge and Southborough and Each of 
tliem for not being provided with a writing and Reading School 
master as the law Requires.^ 

^thi.v John Jordan of Brookfield Husbandman and Submitt Jor- 
dan of Brookfield y^ wife of the said John Jordan Housewife and 

'The first Sheriff of the County, was Daniel Gookin. son of the Maj. Gen. 
* ^ ^ See Notes at the end of the Record of this term of the Court. 



FEUEUARY 



36 Court of General Sessions. \ tkkm' 

William Cratten of Uxbridge Husbandman and Easter Cratten of 
Uxbridge aforesaid wife of y^ Said William Cratten Housewife Each 
and every of them for the Sin of Fornication^ 

6*iy John Hastings of Lunenburg Husbandman Jonathan 
Wheeler and Jonathan Moore Junr Husbandmen and both of Lan- 
caster and all in the Said County Each and all of them for their 
absenting themselves from y'^ Publick worship of God for more 
than one month ^ last past, all which things are against the peace 
of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity 

Joseph Dwight att pro Reg" 

Billa Vera Thomas Rice foreman 



Jonathan Wheler of Lancaster in y^ County of Worcester Hus- 
bandman being presented by the Grand Jurors of our Sovereign 
Lord the King for that he the said Jonathan has absented himself 
from the Publick worship of God for more than one month last 
past against the peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown 
and Dignity, the said Jonathan Wheler Came into Court and 
Pleaded not Guilty' putt himself upon Tryall by the Court the mat- 
ter being duly considered it is the opinion of the Court that the 
said Jonathan Wheler is not Guilty of absenting himself from the 
Publick worship of God for more than one month last past & there- 
fore order that the said Jonathan Wheler be Dismissed paying the 
Cost of his prosecution Taxed at Twelve Shillings & Sixpence from 
which Judgment the Said Jonathan Wheler appealed to the next 
Court of assize and General Goal Delivery to be holden for this 
County at Worcester within and for said County on the Wednes- 
day Liimediately preceeding the time by law appointed for the 
holding y^ said Court of assize and Generall Goal Delivery at 
Springfield within and for the County of Hampshire Li September 
next and entered into Recognizance with Two Suretys as the law 
Dire6ls for prosecuting his appeal with Effe6t and to abide and 
perform the order or Sentence of Court thereon. 

Cost p** & appeal withdrawn 
* ^See Notes at the end of the Record of this term of the Court. 



1 73 1 "2. 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 37 

Jonathan Moore of Lancaster in the County of Worcester Hus- 
bandman being presented by the Grandjurors for the body of said 
County For that he the Said Jonathan Moore has absented him- 
self from the Publick worship of God for more than one month 
last past, against the peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his 
Crown and Dignity. The said Jonathan Moore came into Court 
& Pleaded not Guilty & putt himself upon Tryall by the Court and 
the Court Taking the Case into their Consideration & having ma- 
turely Considered thereof are of opinion that the Said Jonathan 
Moore is not Guilty of absenting himself from the Publick Worship 
of God for more than one month last past and therefore order that 
the said Jonathan Moore pay the Cost of his prosecution Taxed 
at Twelve Shillings and Six pence ; from which Judgment the said 
Jonathan Moore appealed to the next Court of assize and Generall 
Goal Delivery to be holden at Worcester within and for the County 
of Worcester on the Wednesday Imediately preceeding the time 
by law appointed for the holding the said Court of assize & Gen- 
erall Goal Delivery at Springfield within and for the County of 
Hampshire In September next and Entered into Recognizance 
with Two Suretys as the law Dire6ls for prosecuting his appeal 
with Effe6l and to abide & perform y^ order or Sentance of Court 
thereon 

Cost paid & appeal withdrawn 



Benjamin Whitney of Lancaster, In the County of Worcester 
Husbandman being bound over by way of Recognizance to this 
Court by m'' Justice Wilder to answer for his being Guilty of the 
Sin of fornication, appeared in Court & Pleaded Guilty whereupon 
the Court ordered that he pay as a fine The Sum of Twenty Shill- 
ings & Cost 2/6 which he paid Down in Court and his Recogni- 
zance Cancelled 



A Petition of William King and Others Inhabitants of the Town 
of Sutton Shewing that they are of the perswasion of those Called 



Fkhbi^ary 



38 Court of General Sessions. \ 'TifK^,' 

annabaptists praying they may obtain the favour granted them by 
the laws of the province made in y*^ first & Second years and in 
the third year of his present majestys Reigne.^ and that the Court 
would appoint Some meet persons to bring into this Court a list of 
all such persons within Said Town of Sutton that profess them- 
selves to be of the Said Denomination and usually attend Such 
meetings according to y^ law. Read tV being Duly Considered 
Ordered that Cap" William King & m"" Benjamin marsh be Im- 
powered to take and bring into this Court at the Sessions In august 
next a list of all Persons within the Town of Sutton that are of the 
Denomination Called annabaptists and usually attend Such meet- 
ing That the Court may advise and a(?t thereupon agreeable to law. 



A Petition of Thomas Green and Others Inhabitants of the Town 
of Leicester Shewing that they are of the perswasion or Denomina- 
tion of those Commonly Called annabaptists praying that they may 
obtain the favour and Priviledge Granted to them by the laws of 
the province made in the first & Second years and in the third year 
of the Reign of his present majestys &6t and that the Court would 
appoint Some meet persons to bring into this Court a list of all 
such persons within the Town of Leicester that profess themselves 
to be of Said Denomination and usually attend such meetings ac- 
cording to the law 

Read and the same being Duly Considered Ordered that m' 
Thomas Green & m' Daniell Denney be Impowered to take and 
bring Into this Court at the Session in august next a list of all per- 
sons within the Town of Leicester that are of the Denomination 
Called annal)aptists and usually attend Such meetings that the 
Court may advise and a6t lliereupon agreeable to law 



Benjamin Wheler of Lancaster in the County of Worcester Hus- 
bandman being bound over to this C'ourt by m'' Justice Wilder to 
answer to his presentment by the Grandjurors of our Sovereign 



' See Notes at the end of the Record of this term of the Court. 



1 73 I -2- j IVorcesier County, Massachusetts. 39 

Lord the King for his negledling to attend the Publick worship of 
God for more than one month last past which is against y^ good 
and wholesome laws of this province and against the peace of our 
Sovereign the King his Crown & Dignity Came into Court & to his 
presentment Pleaded not Guilty & put himself upon Tryall by the 
Court The Case being fully Considered The Court are of opinion 
that the Said Benjamin Wheler is not Guilty of negle6ling to attend 
the Publick Worship of God for more than one month last past as 
Sett forth in the Said presentment and therefore order that the 
Said Benjamin Wheeler be Dismisst from his bonds cv pay the Cost 
of his prosecution Taxed at one pound Six Shillings & Sixpence 
from which Judgment the Said Benjamin AVheler appealed to the 
next Court of assize and Generall Goal Delivery to be holden at 
Worcester within and for the County of Worceste.r on the Wednes- 
day Imediately preceding the time by law appointed for the hold- 
ing the said Court of Assize and Generall Goal Delivery at Spring- 
field within and for the County of Hampshire In September next 
and entered into Recognizance with two Suretys as the law dire6ts 
for his prosecuting his appeal with P]ffe6t an(f to abide & perform 
the order or Sentance of Court thereon 

Cost i)aid appeal withdrawn 



Mary Moore Housewife of lancaster in the County of Worcester 
wife of Jonathan Moore Jun' of Said Lancaster being bound over 
to this Court by m' Justice Wilder to answer to her presentment 
by the (irandjurors of our Sovereign Lord the King for Said County 
for her neglecting to attend the Publick worship of God for more 
than one month last past, which is against the good and wholesome 
laws of this province and against the Peace of our Sovereign lord 
the King his Crown and Dignity, Came into Court & to her pre- 
sentment pleaded not Guilty and put herself upon Tryall by the 
Court, The Case being fully heard & Duly Considered the Court 
are of opinion that the said Mary Moore is not Guilty of negledting 
to attend the Publick worship of (}od for more than one month 
last past as sett forth in the j^resentment and therefore order that 



40 Court of General Sessions. T'tmIm,"'' 

the Said Moore be Dismisst from her bonds and -pay the Cost of 
her prosecution Taxed at one pound Eleven Shillings & Three 
pence from which Judgment the Said Mary Moore appealed to the 
next Court of assize and Generall Goal Delivery to be holden at 
Worcester within and for the County of Worcester on the Wednes- 
day Imediately preceeding the time by law appointed for the hold- 
ing the said Court of assize and Generall Goal Delivery at Spring- 
field within and for the County of Hampshire In September next 
and entered into Recognizance with two Suretys as the law dire6ls 
for her prosecuteing her appeal with Effe6t and to abide & per- 
form y*^ order or Sentance of Court thereupon 

Cost paid appeal withdrawn 



David Parsons of Leicester in y*^ County of Worcester Clerk ^ 
Complainant versus the Sele6lmen of Leicester aforesaid Defend''. 
&61 as pr the writt & Petition on file may appear. The Selectmen 
desiring the Case may be Continued To the Session in may next 
and m'' Parsons Consenting thereto The Same is accordingly Con- 
tinued under view that in the mean time the matter may be ac- 
comodated 

this Court is adjourned to the 2'^ Tuesday in march next to sitt 
[in] Worcester, at y^ house of Daniell Haywood 

' The title of (TAv/' was formerly given to a clergyman or any educated 
person. 



Worcester ss Anno Regni Regis Geoj^gij Secundi 
Magnce Brittanice Francice Hibernics Quinto 

Att a Court of General Sessions of the peace held 
at Worcester for & within the County of Wor- 
cester the Second Tuesday of March being the 
14"' day of Said Month Anno Dom^ 173 1-2 by 
adjournment from the i^' Tuesday of February 
last past 



Benjamin lownsend of Worcester in said County Husbandman 
being bound over to tliis Court by m'' Justice Jenison to answer to 
such matters and things as shall be objeaed against him on his 
majestys behalf and Especially for the abuse he offered at a Court 
held before the said William Jenison Esq the 22"*^ day of February 
last past at the house of Thomas Starnes in Worcester in said 
County Inholder which Court was held by virtue of a speciall war- 
rant, and the said Townsend to be of the good behaviour in the 
mean time towards his majesty and all his Leige people &a the 
said Benjamin Townsend came into Court and to the matters al- 
ledged against him pleaded not Guilty and putt himself on Tryal 
by a Jury whereupon the Court Order that the Case be Continued 
to the next Court of Generall Sessions of the peace to be holden 
at Worcester aforesaid on the Second ^Fuesday of May next and 
that the said Benjamin Townsend give bond with two Suretys for 
his appearance at said Court and abideing Judgment &a and In 
the mean time to be of the good behaviour towards his majestye 



Febbuaey 



42 Court of Geiieral Sessio7is. \ teem,' 

and all his Leige people, The said Benjamin Townsend Recog- 
nized as principall In the Sum of Thirty pounds & Thomas Hap- 
good and Jotham Rice as Suretys in fifteen pounds Each ; for the 
said Benjamin Townsends appearance & abiding the Judgment of 
said Court & being of y^ good behaviour in y^ mean time &6\ 
The above Recognizance was Discharged may 1732 



Sarah Read of Rutland In the County aforesaid Housewife & 
wife of Thomas Read of said Rutland being bound over by way of 
Recognizance to the Court of Generall Sessions of the peace In 
February last past by m'' Justice Wright to answer for the Sin of 
fornication &61 and being not able to Travell to said Court her 
bonds were Continued to this time She now appeared in Court 
and Pleaded Guilty where upon the Court order that for her Crime 
she pay a fine of three pounds or be whiped on the Naked back 
five Stripes & pay the Cost of her prosecution and stand Com- 
mitted till Sentence be Performed, Cost Taxed at one pound six 
shillings & six pence. She paid the fine & Cost in Court which 
was Divid to the Justices present in part of what is due to them 
being 8/7 apeice 



The Town of Worcester being presented by the Grand Jurors 
of said County for their not being provided with Stocks as the law 
Dire6ts at this Court in February last past appeared before this 
Court by their Selectmen and pleaded Guilty to the presentment, 
and makeing it appear that they have now a good and lawfiill pair 
of Stocks and praying the Courts favour Its ordered that the said 
Town be Discharged from paying a fine for said Defect: & that 
they pay Cost Taxed at one pound Eight Shillings & Sixpence 

y^ Cost is paid 



The Committee appointed by this Court in February last past 
for the building a Goal &61 laid before them an ace*'" of their pro- 
ceedings which was approved on 



1 73 1 "2- ) Worcester Cozmty, Massachtisetts. 43 

The Severall accompts following were laid before the Court and 
were allowed and payment ordered to be made to Discharge them 
out of the County Treasury vizt 

an accott of John Chandler Jun Esq amounting 
unto Twenty Three pounds Ten Shillings 
i\: nine pence . 23 lo 9 

an accott of William Jenison Esq of one pound 

fifteen Shillings & six pence I 15 6 

an accott of Henry Lee Esq one pound ten shill- 
ings & three pence i 10 3 

an accot of Richard Wheeler & others of four 

pounds five shillings 4 5 

an accott of Robert Barber of one pound Ten 

shillings & nine pence i 10 9 



Amounting in the w hole to Thirty two pounds 

Twelve Shillings t^ 3 pence 32 12 



And the Clerk is accordingly ordered To Signifie the Same to 
the County Treasurer. 

also To Phinehas Ilayvvard 20/ for Irons for the Cage 
And the Court was adjourned without day 



NOTES. 



TuK First Iail. (page 35) The first Jail proper, which was not completed 
until 1733. was on the present Lincoln Street, a short distance from Lincoln 
Square. The house of Judge Jennison, where the pri.soners were kept for a 
time, was on the site of State .Street, about half-way up the hill. Daniel 
Heywood lived where the ISay State House now is. corner of Main and Ex- 
change Streets. 

Stocks, Weights and Measures, (page 35) Each town was to be pro- 
vided with Stocks and a full set of weights and measures under the penaUy 
of fines for non-compliance. 

f5cH()()EMASTER. (page 35) The penalty for negledling or refusing to 
maintain a school a certain number of months in the year, was thirty pounds 
for everv town of i =;o families, forty pounds for 200 families, and so /re ;-///</. 



44 Court of General Sessions, 

Punishment for Fornication, (page 36) Fornication was punishable 
by a fine not to exceed five pounds or whipping on the naked body not to 
exceed "ten stripes apiece." The offence of adultery appears to have been 
ignored by this Court, married and single alike being tried for fornication. 

Neglect to Atfend Public VVokshik (page 36) "And be it . . enacled. 
That if any Person being able of Body and not otherwise necessarily pre- 
vented, shall for the space of one Month together absent themselves from 
the publick Worship of God on the Lord's-Day, they shall forfeit and pay 
the Sum of ten Shillings. 

"Provided always, That if upon Trial it shall appear that any Person so 
charged, had good and sufficient Excuse for their Absence, such Person 
shall be dismissed without Costs." 

It will be observed in the foregoing cases that the persons tried, while 
declared innocent, were ordered to pay costs, notwithstanding the law ex- 
pressly provided for exemption in such cases. Numerous other instances 
of this method of dispensing justice will be found in the records of this Court. 
In the matter of leaving his cash behind, the guilt or innocence of the culprit 
made little difference. This sagacity is ofttimes emulated in our modern 
courts. 

Anabaptists, (page 38) Anabaptists and Quakers were exempted from 
paying the general ministerial tax. The law required that a list of the names 
of such persons in each town should be presented to the Court. 



Worcester ss Anno Regiti Regis Geo^^gij Secu7idi 
nunc Magnice Briitanics FrajicicB Et Hiberni^ 
Quinto^^ 

Att a Court of General Sessions of y*" peace Holden 
at Worcester for and within the County of Wor- 
cester the Second Tuesday of May being the 
Ninth day of Said Month Annoq Dominij 1732 



John Chandler ^ Esqrs 

,,, justices of 

Joseph Wilder -"the Peace 

William Ward & 

... , I Quorum 

William Jenison > ^ 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

Samuell Wright 
Josiah Willard 
Joseph Dwight 
Samuel Dudley 
Henry Lee 



Daniel Tafi- | Esqrs 

^ T r r Tnstires Nahum Ward 

John Chandler Jun' ) justices 



Esqr' 
['Justices 



Names of y'' Grand Jurors who served this year 



M' Thomas Rice Foreman 

M' Eben"" Wilder 

M"" James Keith 

M"^ Isaac Learned 

M"" Daniell Denney 

M-" Daniell How 

M' Robert Taft 



W Gershom Rice 
M' Josiph Baron 
M"' Joseph Banister 
M' Parcivall Hall 
M"^ John Woods 
M"" Joseph Stevens 
M' ?"dward Hartwell 



Served 2 days 



46 Court of General Sessions. \ tkbm, 

The names of the Grand Jurers who were Returned to Serve 
the present year vizt. 

Oxford Cap' Ebenezer Learned Worcester M' James Taylor 

foreman 

Lancaster M' John Bennitt Mendon M' Ebenezer Daniells 

Woodstock M"" Ephraim Child Brookfield M'' Samuell Barnes 

Westboroiigh M'' Isaac Tomlin Sutton M"" Nathanael Dyke 

Leicester M"" Thomas Richardson Southborough M"" Samuel Ward 

Rutland M'' Edward Rice Shrewsbury M'' John Crosby 

Uxbridge M"" Woodland Thompson 

Lunenburg M' Ephraim Peirce 

who were Sworn & the Charge being given them were Dismist Till 
The next Term. Each attended one day : 

Constables that attended were Robert Peibles 2 days James 
Calwell 4 days 



The Court proceeded To sort y^ Votes for y^ Choice of a County 
Treasurer, And M"" Jonathan Houghton of Lancaster was Chose 
by a major Vote & was Sworn accordingly 



The acco' of y^ Charge of y*^ Grandjurors That Served at y^ 
Court of Assize & Generall Goal Delivery in September last 
amounting unto thirteen pounds thirteen Shillings was Examined 
& allowed and payment ordered thereupon accordingly for 13 13 

also y^ ace' of y*^ Grandjurors that Served at y^ Court from au- 
gust last amounting unto forty nine pounds Seventeen Shillings 
was accordingly allow'd & paym' ordered for 49 19 



The order given accordingly Totall 63 1 2 



The Towns following being presented by y*^ Grandjurors for 
Sundry Defeats appeared by their Respective Selecftmen, and were 
Excused paying C'osts viz' 



1 732. 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 47 

Southborough three presentments — Uxbridge two presentments 
— Brookfield one presentment — Lunenburg one presentment — 
Rutland one presentment — and Cost were paid accordingly 



The Committee appointed for building y*^ Goal &61 laid before 
y*= Court an acco' of their proceedings which were approved and 
thereupon the Court ordered that the County Treasurer pay to y^ 
Committee or their order the Sum of one hundred pounds by the 
last day of May next & the further Sum of Seventy pounds by the 
last day of July next To Enable them To pay the Two first pay- 
ments they are obliged To towards building the Said Goal &61 



Upon Reading the Petition of the Reverend M' David Parsons 
of Leicester in behalf of himself & family Seting forth that the Pe- 
titioner accepted the Call of the Church and Town of Leicester, 
to the Gospell ministry among them Sometime in the year 1721 
with an Incouragement from them of an Honourable Support of 
Seventy five pounds &(!:t from year to year in which Service the 
Petitioner has Continued ever since according To his poor Ca- 
pacity heartily Endeavoured to be faithfull. But the Town has 
been formerly very negligent in Supporting of him and his family 
which has necesitated him to many Long and Grevious processes at 
y*^ Session in Middlesex for the Same where he Recovered Judgment 
against them at least for a part till y"^ year i 730, which began with 
march Since which they have been wholly Deficient in Every part 
which has put him to Distressing Difficultys to Support himself & 
Carry on his Work &ct praying the Court would take his Case into 
their Serious Consideration and in their Wisdom and Justice accord- 
ing to the Direction of the good laws of this province take Effe61;ual 
Care for the Support of the Petitioner & his family by causing the 
Town of Leicester Imediately To pay in a Sutable Consideration 
for the Petitioners Service in the Ciospell ministry amongst them 
for y-^" year i 730 & otherwise to find Such further or other Reliefe 
in the premises as the Court Shall think fitt to Inable the Petitioner 



48 Court of General Sessions. \ tekm, 

in his duty for y^ future &(ft as by the Petition on file. The Se- 
lectmen of Leicester being Summoned by a warrant from this Court 
to make answer to this Petition at the Court of Generall Sessions 
of the peace held at this place on the first Tuesday of February 
last past, appearing Desired this Case might be Continued To this 
time under a view that the matter might be accomodated to which 
m"" Parsons Consented and now the S*^ Selectmen appeared vizt 
Richard Southgate Daniell Denney Thomas Newhall Thomas 
Richardson & Samuel Green and acknowledged the Town of 
Leicesters Contra6l with the Rev'' m'' Parsons and that his yearly 
Sallary was Seventy five pounds a year and that the Town had been 
negligent in not Supporting Said m' Parsons. The Court having 
therefore Duly Considered the Case are of opinion that they are 
Guilty and order that the said mes" Richard Southgate Daniel 
Denney Thomas Newhall Thomas Richardson and Samuel Green 
the said Sele6lmen be fined the Sum of four pounds each accord- 
ing to The direction of the law in that Case made and provided 
for that it appears to be a Second negleCt of the maintainance of 
their minister, and to pay Costs of prosecution Taxed at Three 
pounds nine shillings & Six pence, and Samuel Wright Esq Mess" 
Benjamin Flagg Jun. of Worcester & m'' Jonas Houghton of Lan- 
caster be assessors, to assess and apportion the Sum of Seventy 
five pounds upon the Inhabitants of Said Town of Leicester in 
Such manner as is Dire6led for raising other Publick Charges and 
to present Such assessment unto Two Justices of the peace Quorum 
Unus that so a Warrant may be affixed thereto for the leveying 
and Colle6ling the Same according to the laws of this province 
and upon Such Collection to pay the Same to Henry Lee Esq of 
Worcester who is appointed by this Court To Receive and pay the 
Same to the Rev'' m"" David Parsons for his Sallary for the year 
1 730, begining with march 

The Selectmen of Leicester appealed from the Judgment of this 
Court to the next Court of assize and General Goal Delivery to be 
holden at Worcester within and for the C'ounty of Worcester, on 
the Wednesday Imediately preceeding The time by law appointed 
for holding Said Court of assize & Generall Goal Delivery at 
SpringfieKi in and for the County of Hampshire in September next 



1732.J Worcester Cojcniy, Massachusctfs. 49 

and Entered into Recognizance pursuant to law to prosecute their 
appeal as aforesaid with Effe6l. 

Richard Southgate of Leicester In the County of Suffolk Hus- 
bandman as principal In the Sum of Twenty pounds & Daniell 
Denney and Thomas Newhall as Suretys in Ten pounds Each ac- 
knowledged themselves to be Indebted to m' David Parsons of 
Leicester Clark to be Leveyed on their Severall goods or Chattells 
Lands or Tenaments and in want thereof on their bodys for the use 
of the said David Parsons Conditioned that the said Seledmen of 
the Town of Leicester shall prosecute their appeal as aforesaid 

with Effea 

Attes' John Chandler J' Cler pea 

The Court was adjourned without day 



Worcester ss Anno R R Georgij Sccundi nunc 
MagniiB Brittanics FrancicE Et HibemiicE Sexto 

At a Court of Generall Sessions of the peace held 
at Worcester for and within the County of Wor- 
cester on the Second Tuesday of Aug^^ Being 
the Eighth day of Said Month, Anno Dom; 
1732 

JUSTICES PRESENT WERE 
John Chandler Esq^ Justices of Samuell Wright Esq 

\ the Peace 

& Quorum 



Joseph Wilder Esq 
William Ward Esq 
William Jenison Esq 

Daniel Taft Esq _ 
John Chandler J Esq 



JosiAH Willard Esq 
Joseph Dwight Esq 
Samuel Dudley Esq 
Henry Lee Esq 
Nahum Ward Esq 



Names of the 

Capt Ebenezer Learned 
M"" James Taylor 
M"" James Holden 
M' John Bennitt 
M"" Jonas Houghton 
M-" Nath" Dyke 
M'" Ephraim Childs 
M' Isaac Tomlin 



Grandjurors that attended 

foreman M"" Thomas Richardson 
M' Samuel Ward 
M' John Crosby 
IVr Woodland Thompson 
M' Ephraim Peirce 
Served 2 days each and M' John 
Eddy Constable of Oxford at- 
tended them 



i732.( Worcester Comity, Massachusetts. 51 

A Petition or Complaint of Daniel Taft of Mendon In y^ County 
of Worcester Esq — Shewing that there being no Publick highway 
or Countey Road^Leading from Worcester To Mendon whereby 
persons who have (Since y« Ere6ling a County) dayly business To 
Transacl in the Shire Town &ct are greatly damaged &6t humbly 
moving to the Court that they would Conformable to Law order a 
Committee to view the lands in and between Said Towns &61 and 
make Report to this Court at their next Session, or at this present 
Session in Case that it Should be adjourned that the Court may 
a(5l thereon as by the Petition on file will appear Read and the 
Court appoint W" Jenison Daniell Taft & Sam" Dudley Esqrs a 
Committee To view The lands in & between y^ Towns of Worces- 
ter & Mendon and make Report as Soon as may be what may bee 
what may be proper for the Court To a61 concerning y'= premises 



A List of the Presentments made by the Grand Jurors to this 
Court vizt The (irandjurers for y^ body of the County of Wor- 
cester upon their Oaths do present Margaret Newton of South- 
borough in the Said County Spinstress for her being Guilty of For- 
nication and do Likewise present y'^ I'own of Shrewsbury for their 
not being provided with a writing & Reading Schoolmaster as y^ 
law Reciuires which things are against the good and wholesome 
laws of this province and y^ peace of our Sovereign Lord the King 
his Crown & Dignity Joseph Dwight attor pro. Rego : 

Billa vera Ebenezer Learned foreman 



A memoriall of Eleazur Fletcher of Sutton Showing that the 
m[em]orialist lives Six miles distance from the meeting house in 
Sutton tS: that about Two miles thereof there is no Road or way 
laid out and that he with Others his neighbours are necessatated 
to Trespass on other mens lands to go to meeting & having adrest 
y^ Selea men of Sutton for Reliefe are Refused any, praying this 
Court would be pleased to Redress the great Difficulty he with 
others at present T^abour under as by the memorial on file will 



5 2 Court of General Sessions. \ 'YmmT 

appear the Court Order that the Sele6lmen of Sutton be Cited to 
appear before this Court on Wednesday y^ 20"" of Sep'' next at two 
acloclc afternoon To make answer to y"" above memoriall or Com- 
plaint & Shew Cause if any they have why the prayer of [the pe- 
titioners] Should not be granted 



David Parsons of Leicester In the County of Worcester Clr ver- 
sus The Sele6l men of Leicester &61 as by the Sumons will appear 

The partys appeared in Court & desired the Case might be Con- 
tinued till The next Terra and it accordingly was. 



Samuel Gibs and Lydiah his wife and Hezekiah Moore were 
bound over by way of Recognizance by Joseph Wilder Esq To 
appear at the Court of Generall Sessions of y^ peace held in may 
last, to answer Severally for the Sin of fornication their Recogni- 
zances were Continued to this Court, and the persons now all ap- 
peared & Pleaded Guilty The Court thereupon order that they 
pay each a fine of thirty Shillings & Cost of Suit, or be whiped on 
the naked body five Stripes Each which was done in Court & they 
were discharged 



Jonathan Newton & Tabitha his wife were bound over by way 
of Recognizance by W'" Ward Esq to appear at this Court to an- 
swer for the Sin of fornication Committed by them before mariage 
the partys appeared & pleaded Guilty The Court thereupon or- 
der that they each pay a fine of thirty Shillings & Cost of Court or 
be whipt on y^ naked body five Stripes each & stand Committed till 
Sentance be performed Judgment Satisfied in Court 



The Towns of Brookfield and Lunenburg be[ing] presented by 
the Grandjurors for not being dulv provided with a Standard of 



i732.[ Worcester County, Massachusetts. 53 

weights and measures as the law Requires appeared by their Se- 
lectmen and being now provided therewith were Excused paying 
Costs 



Samuell Leightle & Mary Warden being Bound over to this 
Court by way of Recognizance by Joseph Dwight Esq to appear 
at this Court To answer for their presuming to Lye together in one 
and the same bed being both undress'd appeared in Court & 
pleaded Ckiilty The Court thereupon order that they pay as a 
fine for their offence Twenty Shillings each & Costs which was 
done in Court 



The Court now order that a Sutable and Convenient Court house 
be built on the land Given by W'" Jenison Esqr for that Purpose, 
and W" Jenison John Chandler Jun & Henry Lee Esqrs or any 
Two of them are appointed a Committee In the Name of this Court 
to Inform the Gent at Boston or Elsewhere who have an Interest in 
land (in y*" County and Especially) in y^ Town of Worcester and 
by that Towns being made the Shire Town are greatly advanced 
of the Courts Intention & to Know what any of them will be 
pleased to give towards building & adorning Said house and Said 
Committee are desired to wait upon said Gents and with them to 
advise what manner of a House to build, and to make Report to 
this Court thereof and of what it may Cost as soon as may bee that 
So the Court may the better Know what measures to take Resped- 
ing the affair 

[A copy of this record was given to Henry Lee indorsed as follows: 

To Henry Lee Esq 

Sr We desire you to act in our Names 
Concerning the within mentioned premises as fully as if either or both of us 
were in ISnston 

yr friends & Servts 

WlI.I.IAM Jknison 
John Chandi.kk jr ] 



S AIniiiHT 

1 'I'l.'UU 



^4 LGurt oj CTcncral <>icssi07is. < tkkm, 

The Court Order that the Committee appointed for builchng the 
Prison \'6t make Such additions thereto as they may judge most 
proper and I'^specially to luilarge the yard 



An acco" of Daniel! C.ookin Kscir Sheriff of the County presented 
for payment Read cS: ordered that the Hon" Joseph Wilder Es(i'' 
tS; Henry Lee F^sqr be a Committee to auditt ^: Kxamin the Same 
and Report what may be proper for the Court to do thereon at 
the adjournment in September next 



In as nuuh as the Prison or Coal is in a great measure finished 
It is ordered by the Court that the Cage in the Chamber of y-^ 
house of m'' Dan" Heyvvood be forthwith Taken down, but that 
the house remain a Coal (Still for Such persons as give bond for 
the Liberty of the Yard &6t) Till the further order of this Court 
together with the new Coal, and as occasion may be the Sheriff is 
direded and Impowered to Remove siu h prisoners as are or may 
be under his Care as Coal Keeper To and from either Coal for 
their more Safe Keeping 



A Petition of the Selei'l men of Brookfield shewing that one 
Hinds an ancient woman antl an Inhabitant of Said Town having 
no means to Sujjport her self has of late become a Town Charge, 
but that they a])prehend her children or some of them ought by 
law to be Charged with her maintanance praying the Court would 
take y" premises into Consideration so that what to Justice doth 
appertain may be done as by the Petition on file i\:<^l— Read vS; 
being duly Considered ordered that the Children of y'= said 
Hinds be Cited to appear before the Court of (ienerall Sessions of 
y" peace to be held at Worcester on the first Tuesday of Novem- 
ber next To shew Cause if any they have why they should not be 
assessed according to law for the maintainance of their said 
mother 



1 732. 1 Worcester Coiuity, Massachusetts. 55 

William King i!v Heiij" Marsh Kcturncil a list of y'^ Ana Baptists 
in Sutton according to the Courts order of Feb"' last past — and 
under oaths thereto 

Thomas Green and Daniell Denney Returned a List of the ana 
baptists in Leicester according to y*^ Courts order of Feb : last past 
& made oaths thereto 

Then the Court adjourned to Wednesday y"^ 20 of Sep'' next to 
this place 2 "Clock P : m — 



Worcester ss An7io Regni Regis Georgij Secuiidi 
nunc MagnicB Brnttanice Fr-ancice et Hiber?ii(s 
Sexto O 

At a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace held 
(by adjournment from y** Second Tuesday of 
Aug^'' last past) at Worcester for and within the 
County of Worcester on Sept. 20. 1732 



William Jeuison Daniell Taft & Samuel Dudley Esq""^ a Com- 
mittee appointed by this Court to view the lands in and between 
the Towns of Mendon & Worcester in answer to a Petition of Dan' 
Taaft Esq in order for a Publick highway or Countey Roads being 
laid out &61 made Report as on file and accepted ; The said Com- 
mittee laid before the Court an acco' of their Charge amounting 
unto the Sum of Seven pounds one Shilling & Ten pence which 
was also approved of by the Court, — And 

This Court order the Clerk in their name to make out a 
warrant Direded To the Sheriff or his Deputy To Sumons a 
Jury of Good and lawfull men Quallyfyed according to law to meet 
at the Dwelling House of M' William Rawson in Mendon in said 
County on monday the Second day of 06lober next who after they 
have had an oath duly administered To them by a Justice of the 
peace lay out the way above Refered to according to the best of 
their Skill and Judgment pursuant to law having a due Regard to 
the Report of the Com'"' the Said Sheriff or his Deputy To make 
due Return of their doings to this Court at their next Court of 
Gen" Sessions in November next as well under his own as the 
hands of the furors by whose oaths the Same is laid out. 



Worcester ss Afino Regni Regis Georgii Secundi 
nu7ic MagncE Brittahiice Francia et Hihernice 
Sexto O 

At a Court of Generall Sessions of y*^ peace held 
at Worcester in & for the County of Worcester 
the first Tuesday of November being the 7"^ 
day of Said month annoq Dom. 1732 



PRESENT 



John Chandler Esq Joseph Wilder Esq VV" Ward Esq W" Jen- 
ison Esq Jus' : pac : & Quo. 

John Chandler J' Joseph Dwight Samuel Dudley Henry Lee & 
Nahum Ward Esq' Jus : pac 

The whole Grandjury attended one day «& W" Calwell attended 
them 



The presentments of y« Towns of Sutton were read and Said 
Towns were excused paying Cost 



David Parsons of Leicester In y"^ County of Worcester Cler pla' 
versus the Seledmen of y= Town of Leicester Def &61 as ^ y^ 
Sumons will ai:)pear ; the partys apeared in Court and y^ a6lion at 
y^ desire of y« said Seleftmen M' Parsons Consenting was Con- 
tinued To v*^ next Term in Febrv 



8 



58 Cow^t of Geiieral Sessio7is. \^T^ilt,^'' 

John Sibly of Sutton & his wife John Stebings of Leicester & his 
wife abner Newton Southboro' and his wife being Severally bound 
over to this Court to answer for y^ Sin of fornication Severally 
pleaded Guilty & were fined thirty Shillings each and payd Costs 
iS: were dismist 



]Vr Sheriff Gookin withdrew his former acco" and at this Court 
Exhibitted a new acco" was comitted to Joseph Wilder & Henry 
Lee Esq' to auditt Examin & Report on y^ Same to y^ Court in 
Febry next 



The Court desire [and] order that the Sheriff at y^ Charge of 
y'^ County provide Two Course Straw beds & Two Straw bolsters 
& four blanketts for y^ use of such prisoners as are now or may 
hereafter be in his majestys Goal in this County and lay his acco' 
before y«= Court for payment 



The Court order that for y*-* present and untill the further order 
of this Court that the prison be y^ House of Correction and y* y^ 
Goal Keeper be the master of said House of Correction attending 
to y*^ Directions of y^ Law in Such Case made and provided 



The Court order that William Jenison John Chandler Henry 
Lee Esqs & m'' Benjamin fflag Jun"" be a Comittee for Seeing y^ 
Court house built & finished which the Court have agreed To 
build, & the said house not to Exceed Thirty six feet Long Twenty 
six feet wide & thirteen feet post, & to be done after their best 
Judgment & discretion either by hiring men or leting the Same 
out by the Great & Report what they Doe to y"^ Court in February 
next 



I732.J Wo7'cester County, Massachusetts. 59 

The Court order that there be a County Tax or assessment 
amounting to y^ Sum of Three hundred & Eleven pounds one 
ShiUing ^i fourpence Raised on the Severall Towns within the 
County according to the Direftions of the law for defraying the 
usuall necessary Charges of y^ County & for building a Court house 
and that the Clerk of the Court forthwith Send out warrants to the 
Selectmen or assessors of the Respe6live Towns for assessing y*^ 
Severall Towns proportion thereof as y^ law dire6ts & for paying 
in y^ Same to m'' Jonathan Houghton County Treasurer his Suc- 
cessor or his order at or before y*^ last day of may next Insuing 

The Severall Towns Proportion are as follows viz' 

Worcester Twenty Two pounds fifteen Shillings & 4d 
Lancaster Sixty Two pounds Sixteen Shillings & 8d 
Melidon Thirty Six pounds 
Woodstock Thirty Two pounds 

Brooktield 'Twenty Seven pounds one Shilling & 4d 
Southhoro' Seventeen pounds Six Shillings 
Leicester thirteen pounds nineteen Shillings & 4d 
Rutland Seven pounds Sixteen Shillings 
Westhoro' Kighteen pcninds Two Shillings 
Shrewsbury fourteen pounds fourteen Shillings 
Oxford ftiurteen pounds four Shillings 

Sutton Twenty four pounds Ten Shillings 

I'xbridge Twelve pounds & 8d 
Lunenlnirg Seven pounds Sixteen Shillings 



22 


15 


4 


62 


16 


8 


36 






32 






27 


I 


4 


17 


6 




13 


19 


4 


7 


16 




18 


2 




14 


14 




14 


4 




24 


10 




12 





8 


7 


16 





Sum 'Total £,T)\\ 



Warrants were accordingly Issued out Nov"" 14 : 1732 

Att John Chandler y Cler pac 



The Town of Lunenburg having Chosen M"' Isaac Farnsworth 
Sealer for weights & measures he was according[ly] SwOrn in 
Court att John Chandler J"" Cle par 



This Witnessetli That I James Buttler of Lancaster in y'' County 
of Worcester husbandman do herebv fullv freelv and absolutely 



6o Court of General Sessions. 

Release acquit & Discharge Jolin Hind Hopestill Hinds and Enoch 
Hinds all of Brookfield & Jacob Hinds of Shrewsbury all in Said 
County of Worcester and province of y« Massachusetts Bay in 
New England from all & any manner of Payments Charge or Ex- 
pence for or towards the maintainance Subsistance or Support of 
Mary Hinds y^ naturall mother of y*^ aforesaid Hinds viz' John 
Hopestill Jacob & Enoch Hinds as afors*^ and do hereby under- 
take and engage to maintain and Support y« Said Mary Hinds 
dure[ing] her naturall life in Comfortable and Decent manner and 
for me my heirs Ex" & adm" do promise and engage to free Dis- 
charge the Said John Hopestill Jacob & Enoch Hinds aforesaid 
from any manner of Charge or expence for the Support or main- 
tainance of the said Mary Hinds during her natural life as afore- 
said in Witness whereof I do hereunto Sett my hand y^ 8"^ day 
offebry 1732/33 his 

witness James X Butder 

Richard Wilds mark 

Howard Southgate 

Worcester ss Worcester Feb' 8"': 1732/3 James Butler 
within named personally appearing freely acknowledged this In- 
stm' to be his a6l & Deed Before me John Chandler J*" Jus pac 

Entered from y^ originall Rec'* Feb'' 8"^ 1732/3 

^ John Chandler J' Cla pac 



Worcester ss Aiino R" R^ Georgij Secundi nunc 
Mas:nc? Britanics Francic? et Hibernice Sexto 



•<^ 



At His Majestys Court of Generall Sessions of the 
Peace begun and Held at Worcester in and for 
the County of Worcester on the first Tuesday 
of February being the Sixth day of Said month 
Anno Dom : 1732-3 

j usiiCES Present 

John Chandler Esq Joseph Wilder Esq W" Ward Esq W" Jen- 
ison Esq Jus of y^ Pac & Qurum 

John Chandler J'' Samuel Wright Joseph Dwight Sam' Dudley 
Henry Lee & Nahum Ward Esq" Justices of y^ Peace. 

Names of y'^ Grandjury that attended this Court 

Capt Ebenezer Learned foreman M'' James Holden 
M' John Bennett M'' Ephraim Child 

M'' Isaac Tomlin . M'' Thomas Richardson 

M'' Edward Rice Capt Jonas Houghton 

M' James Taylor M' Sam' Barns 

M'' Eleazur Daniells ' M'' Sam' Ward 

M'' Nathan" Dyke each attended two days and W"' 

M"" Woodland Thompson Colwell Constable attended on 

them 



Ralph Hill of Mendon & Hannah his wife being heretofore 
presented by the Grandjurors for being Guilty of y= Crime of 



62 Court of General Sessions. J*t''ebm';'"' 

fornication before marriage & being Recognized To appear at this 
Court now appeared & pleaded Guilty, were find Each fifty Shill- 
ings To our Sovereign Lord the King & Cost w'''* they paid & were 
dismiss'd 



Margarett Newton of Southboro' appeared before y'^ Court & 
pleaded Guilty to her presentment for the Crime of fornication, 
was fin'd to our Lord y^ King in y^ Sum of thirty Shillings & Cost, 
She paid y'^ fine and was Dismiss'd, y^ Cost given to her 



John Ellis of Uxbridge appeared before y^ Court and Com- 
plained of himself for being Guilty of y^ Crime of fornication with 
Han* his wife before marriage, was find to our Lord y^ King &6t 
ye Sum of thirty Shillings & to pay Costs which he paid and was 
Dismiss'd 



Personally appeared before y^ Court John Ellis of Uxbridge in S** 
County Husbandman and John Harwood of Said Uxbridge Re- 
tailer & acknowledged themselves bound to our Sovereign Lord 
the King, &(5l viz' The Said John Ellis as Principal) In the Sum of 
Ten pounds & y"^ said John Harwood as Surety in y*^ Sum of Ten 
pounds &61 Conditioned that if Hannah Ellis wife of the said John 
Ellis shall appear before the next Court of Gen*' Sessions of y*^ 
peace to be held here on the Second Tuesday of may next to an- 
swer to her being Guilty of the Crime of fornication Then y^ 
Recog' to be void Else to Remain in full force & virtue 



George Wicker Servant of Baldwin now living in Leices- 

ter in this County having absented himself from his Said masters 
Service and y^ Charge of pursuing and Recovering him amounting 
to eight pounds Sixteen Shillings and the Said George being before 



1732-3.1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 63 

y^ Court and acknovvledgeing y*^ Same the Court therefore order 
that the Said apprentice Serve his Said master his heirs Excuf* or 
adm" eight months next after the determination of y*^ present In- 
denture 



Oba(hah CooUge of Marlborough in y^ County of Midlesex 
Cordwainer who was bound by way of Recognizance by Nahum 
Ward Esqr one of his Majestys Justices of the peace for y« County 
of Worcester To appear before y*^ Justices of our Lord y^ King at 
the Court of Generall Sessions of the peace held at Worcester &61 
on y^ first Tuesday of Nov'', last past to answer to Such matters 
and things as Should be Objected against him on his maj'"' behalf 
and Especially to answer To a Complaint made against him before 
S'' Justice for theifishly Taking a fourty shilling bill out of y^ house 
of Simon Maynard in Shrewsbury on or about y^ 2 1 " day of aprill 
1732 &6t as by y^ Recognizance will appear having faild of ap- 
pearing said Recognizance was by the Said Court then declared for- 
fieted ; but he now appearing and producing Testimony Sufficient 
that he was under such bodily Indisposition as Rendered him un- 
able of attending at y"^ Court praying the forfieture of y-' Recog' : 
may be Remitted, for that Reason that he might be admitted to a 
Tryall The Court thereupon order that upon his Entering into a 
new Recognizance with Two Sufficient Suretys viz' The said Oba- 
diah Coolidge as principall In y'^ Sum of Twenty pounds & his 
Suretys In 'Fen pounds Each To appear at the next Court of Gen" 
Sessions of the peace To be held at this place on the Second 
Tuesday of may next To answer To y^ aforesaid Complaint &6't 
that said forfieture of said Recognizance be Remitted, and further 
ordered that Symon Maynard the Complainant Enter into Recog- 
nizance with Surutys as well To our Sovereign Lord the King to 
prosecute his Complaint ag" y"^ Said obadiah Coolidge, as also to 
y*= said obadiah Coolidge To answer all Damages in Case he Dont 
Supporte his Complaint, The said Maynard accordingly Recog- 
nized himself as princii)all in Twenty pounds Each Recognizance 
iS: Gershom Rice yeoman ^: Benj" fflagg Jun' Gent both of Wor- 



FEIiBUAKV 



64 Court of General Sessions, \ te"km, 

cester in said County as Suretys in Ten pounds each in Each Re- 
cognizance ; but the said Coohdge faild of Renewing his Recog- 
nizance 



Daniel Gookin Esqr Sheriff of y'^ County pursuant to a warrant 
Issued by the Clerk by order of this Court having Impanelled a 
Jury & Laid out or Bounded y^ Road from mendon to Worcester 
made Report at the last Court of (}enerall Sessions of the peace 
held here in Nov"" last — as also an acco' of the Charge thereof 
which was Refered to this Court, & the Court now order that the 
further Consideration thereof be Refered To y^ Second Tuesday 
of May next ; 



A Petition of y'^ Town of Sutton and also a Petition of Sundry 
of the Inhabitants of Hassanamisco praying the Road lately laid 
out by order of this Court Leading from Worcester to Mendon 
may not be Confirmed but that it may be laid out thro' Hassana- 
misco for Reason In Said Petitions mentioned Read & ordered 
that The Petitioners Serve the Town of Mendon and Uxbridge 
with Copys of Said Petitions that they Shew Cause if any they 
have at y" next Court of Generall Sessions of y« peace to be holden 
at Worcester on the Second Tuesday of May next why the Prayer 
of Said Petitions should not be answer'd 



A Petition of John Harwood in behalf of the Town of Uxbridge 
Returning the thanks of said Town to the Court for y^ Road lately 
laid out from Mendon to Worcester & praying they mas have a 
Road laid out from Uxbridge to meet with the aforesaid Road &61 
Read and Refered to the Second Tuesday of May next for further 
Consideration 



An acco" of y«^ Grand Jurers that attended on his Majestys Court 
of assize and Gen" Goal Delivery begun and held at Worcester y 



1732-3-1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 65 

third Wednesday in Septem'' anno Dom' 1732 present for allow- 
ance amounting To 14' 4'/ Read & Examined and The Treas- 
urer of the County is hereby ordered to pay the Same to y^ persons 
to whome the same is Respedtively due or to their orders in full 
discharge thereof 



An acco' of John Chandler Jun' amounting to Six pounds was 
presented for allowance Read & ordered that the Treasurer of 
the County pay the Sum of Six pounds to the accompttant in 
full Discharge thereof 



Joseph Wilder Esqr from y^ Committee appointed the 7"* of 
Nov' 1732 to Examine the acco' of Daniel Gookin Esq Sheriff of 
this County made Report thereon which was Read cS: accepted & 
thereupon The Court Order that the Treas"" of the County to pay 
To y Said Daniell Gookin Esq fifteen pounds Twelve Shillings in 
full Discharge thereof 



The presentment of the Grandjurors To this Court is as follows 
Att a Court of Generall Sessions of y^ peace holden at Worces- 
ter within and for y= County of Worcester on Tuesday y^ 6"' day 
of febry anno Dominij i 732/3 The Grand Jury for y*^ body of y^ 
Said County upon their oaths do present Peter Corlile of Leicester 
within y^ said County Husbandman for prophane Swearing^ on 
Tuesday y^ 30"' (iay of January last and also for uttering many 
menaces and threatning Speeches ag'' Thomas Richardson of Lei- 
cester aforesaid Inholder, and also do present James Nuting Hus- 
bandman Josiah Nuting Husbandman and John Nuting Husband- 
man all of Hassanamisco in y^ Said County each and all of them 
for Travelling Unnecessarily on y'^ Saturday evening after Sun sett 
before y'' Lords Day' from Lancaster to Groton — also Philip Chase 
of within the said County of Worcester for Labouring 



See Notes, next page. 



FEBBL'ARV 



66 Court of General Sessto?is. \ ^i-^^ 

unnecessarily on y^ Lords day, as also Elisha Johnson of Sutton in 
the County aforesaid Gent for not building & keeping in Repair 
two bridges on the Two Branches of Black Stones River in y^ 
bounds of Hassanamisco as by his own Covenant and by law he 
ought all and every of which things are against the peace of our 
Lord the King his Crown and Dignity and the good and wholsome 
laws of this Gov' Joseph Dwight attorney pro Rego 

Eben"" Learned foreman 

Entered "^ John Chandler y Cle pac 



This Court order, The Clerk in the name of the Court To Re- 
turn their thanks to m' Jonas Clark of Boston Brazier for the Coat 
of arms he has made the County a present off and for the Con- 
stables Stafs ; 

Then the Court was adjourned without day 

Att" John Chandler J' Cle pac 



NOTES. 



The laws against profanity and sabbath-breaking in force at this date were 
as follows : (See page 65.) 

SWEARiNt;. — "Be it enaded" etc. "That if any Person or Persons shall 
prophanely Swear or Curse in the hearing of any Justice of the Peace, or 
shall be thereof convided by the Oaths of two Witnesses, or Confession of 
the Party, before any Justice or Justices of the Peace : Every such Offender 
shall forfeit and pay into the Use of the Poor of the Town, where the Of- 
fence shall be committed, the Sum oi five Shillings. And if the Offender be 
not able to pay the said Sum. then to be set in the Stocks, not exceeding 
two Hours. And if any Person shall utter more profane Oaths or Curses at 
the same time, and hearing of the same Person or Persons, he shall forfeit 
and pay to the Use aforesaid, the Sum of tivelve Pence for every Oath or 
Curse after the first; or be set in the Stocks three Hours. 

"■Provided., That every Offence against this Law shall be complained of 
and proved as aforesaid, within thirty Days next after the Offence com- 
mitted." 



1 732-3- i Worcester County, Massac liusetts. 67 

Sabuath Breaking. — "Be it enacted That all Persons who shall be found 
in the Streets, Wharffs, Fields, or other Places within any Town on the 
Evening following the Lord's Day, disporting, playing making a Disturb- 
ance, or committing any Rudeness: The Persons so offending, shall each of 
them pay a line oi five Shillings, or suffer twelve Hours Imprisonment, or 
sit in the Stocks, not exceeding two Hours. All Fines and Forfeitures aris- 
ing by Virtue of this Ad, shall be to and for the Use of the Poor 

of the Town where the Offence shall be committed," etc. 

"And the Constables of the respedlive Towns are hereby direded and 
specially impowered to prevent the Prophanation of the Lord's Day, by re- 
straining Persons from walking, recreating and disporting themselves in the 
Streets, Wharffs, or Fields, in the Time of publick Worship." 

In the olden time in New England the Sabbath began at sunset on Satur- 
day and ended at the same time on Sunday. 



Worcester ss Anno R^ R^ Georgij Secimdi nunc 
Magncs Brittainics Francice et Hibernice Sexto 

Att his majestys Court of Generall Sessions of the 
Peace Held at Worcester in and for y'' County 
of Worcester on the Second Tuesday of May 
being y"* 8'^' day of Said month Anno Dom. 

JUSTICES PRESENT 

John Chandler Esq Joseph Wilder Esq W"' Ward Esq \\''" Jen- 
ison Esq Justices of y^ peace & Quorum 

Daniel Taft John Chandler Samuell Wright Joseph Dwight 
Samuel Dudley Henry Lee &Nahum Ward Esq"''' Justices of y« 
peace 



Grand Jurors that attended this Court 

Capt Ebenezer Learned foreman M' Thomas Richardson 

Capt Jonas Houghton M"" John Crosby 

M'" Ephraim Child M' James Holden 

M' Nathanael Dyke M"' Eleazer Daniells 

M' Edward Rice M' Isaac Tomlin 

M' Ephraim Peirce M' Samuel Ward 

M"" James Taylor M' Woodland Thompson 

M' John Benett 

M"" Samuel Barns 



^733-\ Worcester County, Massachusetts. 69 

The names of y*^ Gent Returned to Serve on y'^ Grand] ury for 
the Current year 

M'' Gershom Rice foreman M"' Moses How 

M"' Hooker Osgood M'' Samuel Johnson 

M"" VV" Old M' James Moore 

M^ W™ Brown M"" Thomas I'hayer 

Cap* Richard Moore M' David Maynard 

M'' Richard Davenport M"' Edward Morris 

M'' Jonathan Farnsworth M'' Samuel Lillie 

M' \V"' Richardson M"" James Newton 

M"' John Emerson 

The Said Gent, were Sworn Received there Charge and were 
Dismissed till y"" next Court all but M' James Moore 



Whereof The Court of Generall Sessions of y" peace held at 
Worcester In and for the County of Worcester of y^ Second Tues- 
day of august last past Did order that the House of m'' Daniel 
Haywood in Worcester Remain a Goal (for such persons as give 
bond for y'' Liberty of y*^ Yard &61) till the further order of the 
Court &6t The Court now order that said House Remain a Goal 
for the ends aforesaid no Longer Then the first day of June next, 
and that Such Prisoners as may be then Retained in Said house 
as prisoners that have the Liberty of the Yard be Removed by the 
Sheriff of y'= County to his majestys Goal newly Ere6led and be 
there Retained under the Same Circumstances as now they are 
and the Sheriff is hereby ordered to Remove them accordingly 



Elisha Johnson of Sutton In the County of Worcester Gent be- 
ing presented by the Grandjurors for the body of the Said County 
at the Court of (jenerall Sessions of y"^ peace Held at Worcester 
In and for the County of Worcester on the Sixth day of Febry 
last past for not building and Keeping in Repair two bridges on 
the Two Branches of BlackStones River in y^ bounds of Hassana- 
misco in v'' County of Worcester as bv his own Covenant and by 



70 Court of General Sessions. \ tek.m, 

law he ought which is against y'^ peace of our Lord y*^ King his 
Crown & Dignity and the good and wholesome laws of this Gov- 
ernment «S:6l and being bound over by m' Justice Jenison To this 
Court to make answer To said Presentment now appeared and by 
his attorney m'' Edm*^ Gouff aP Trowbridge Comes into Court & 
Defend' y^ [ ] & Injury &61 and prays Judgment of y^ pres- 

entment aforesaid for that the presentment aforesaid and the mat- 
ter therein contained is Insufficient in law to maintain a present- 
ment and to which the def by the law of the land is not bound to 
make answer and this he is ready to Verifie wherefore for the In- 
sufficiency of y*^ presentment aforesaid y"^ Deft prays Judgment 
that he may be Dismissed, &(5l which pleas Together with y*" an- 
swer of John Overing Esq attorney To our Sovereign Lord y*^ King 
being Duly Considered, The Court are of opinion that a present- 
ment Lyes in this Case and the Said Elisha Johnson not main- 
taining his Demurer is adjudged by the Court Guilty according to 
the presentment and therefore order'd That he doe by the first day 
of august next Effectually Repair both Said Bridges or in default 
.thereof That he pay as a fine to our Said Lord the King The Sum 
of Eighty pounds and Cost Taxed at pounds Shillings 

& pence 

The Said Elisha Johnson appealed from this Judgment to the 
next Court of assize & Generall Goal Delivery To be holden at 
Worcester in and for the County of Worcester In September next, 
& Entered into y^ following Recognizance for prosecuting his ap- 
peal with Effect pursuant to law viz' The Said Elisha Johnson as 
principall In the Sum of one hundred pounds & Samuel Dudley 
Esq & Timothy Carter yeoman both of Sutton in the County of 
Worcester Suretys in the Sum of fifty pounds Each acknowledged 
themselves Severally Indebted in the aforesaid Sums to our Sove- 
reign Lord the King to be Levej'ed upon their Severall goods or 
Chattells Lands or Tenements for y= Use of said Lord the King 
or his Successors Conditioned that the said Elisha Johnson prose- 
cute his appeal aforesaid with Effe6t. 



i733-i Worcester County, Massachusetts. 71 

Peter Corly of Leicester in y^ County of Worcester husbandman 
being bound over To this Court by way of Recognizance To an- 
swer To his presentment by y^ Grandjury for prophane Swearing 
&61 came into Court & pleaded Guilty Its therefore ordered by 
the Court that he pay as a fine To our Lord the King five Shillings 
& Costs, & Stand Committed till Sentance is performed which he 
paid in Court and was Dismissed 



William M'^Michell & Margarett his wife of Woodstock In y= 
County of Worcester came into Court and Complained of them- 
selves for being Guilty of y^ Crime of fornication before marriage, 
were find Each Thirty Shillings To our Lord y^ King & Costs 
which they paid & were Dismissed 



Alexander Turner of Worcester & Mary his wife came into Court 
and complained of themselves for being Guilty of y^ Crime of for- 
nication before marriage, were find To our Lord y*^ King the Sum 
of Thirty Shillings, Each & Cost, which they paid & were dismissed 



Solomon Johnson of Leicester in y^ County of Worcester Gent 
being presented by the Grandjurors for being drunk ^ &6t, came 
into Court & put himself on Tryall and was acquited paying Cost 
which he paid & was Dismissed 



Phillip Chase of Worcester In y"^ County of Worcester husband- 
man being presented by the Grandjurors for Working unecessaryly 
on the Lords day &61 came into Court & put himself upon Tryall 
by the Court & was acquitted paying Cost 



'The penalty for drunkenness was a fine of five shillings; or in lieu there- 
of the offender was to sit in the stocks not exceeding three hours. 



7 2 Court of Genei'al Sessions. \ 



Mai 

Tebm, 



Dom Rex Our Sovereign Lord y*^ King pla' versus Perez 

vs Rice late of Westboro' In the County of Wor- 

Rice cester now of Sutton in Said County Deft, 

JURY The Said Rice was now appel' from a Judg- 

Mr James Keyes mcnt givcn against him by m' Justice Ward for 

Mr jahn Curtice Lying Or falsc Socaking 

MrJohnBiglo ^ O r o 

Mr George Bruce ^Yh^ Said aDD^" appeared & pleaded not 

Mr Eben : How 1 I 1 1 1 

Mr Jacob Amsden Guilty & thc Casc after a full hearing was 

Mr joshua^cimverss Committed to thc Jury who were Sworn ac- 

Mr symon dakin cording to law To Tryc the Same and Re- 

Mr John Bush ° ^ -' 

Mr Nathan Brigham tuHi'd thcrc Verdi6t in as follows viz' That 

Mr Daniel Davis , . ^i -i r t ■ ,- i 

the appelt is not Guilty of Lying or false 
Speaking The Court thereupon order That the Said Perez Rice 
be dismissed paying Costs which were accordingly paid The 
Court Thereupon order That the fine of five Shillings be Remitted 
& y^ S'' Justice ordered to pay the Same to the S*^ Rice 



The Court proceeded to Examin <& Sort the Votes Sent from the 
Severall Towns for y*^ Choice of a County Treasurer & it appeared 
That M' Benjamin Flagg Jun'' was Duly Elected & an oath was 
administered To him before the Court by the Clerk 



The Court order that the County Treasurer Pay to y"^ Comittee 
appointed for building y^ Goal Sixty five pounds being the last 
payment agreeable to there Contract & the further Sum of five 
pounds To pay for Such things as were omited in the Said Con- 
tract . 



The Court now order that the Clerk Send forth a Scire facias 
agts Obadiah Colidge and his bondsmen to appear at the next 
Court of Gen" Sessions of y^ peace to give reason why there bonds 
should not be declared forfiet also a warrant to bring him to his 
trvall for the Crime laid to his Charge 



1 733- 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. ']^ 

An acco' of Nahum Ward Esqr for Service done y'= County about 
the Goal amounting to thirty five Shillings Read and allowed & 
the Treas"" of y'' County is according ordered To pay y«^ Same to 
the Said Nahum Ward Esq in full Discharge thereof 



An acco' of William Gray J' late Constable for atj;endance on 
the Grandjury four days Read & Ordered that y^ County Treas- 
urer pay To y^ Said William Gray J"' Sixteen Shillings in full dis- 



charge thereof 



A Petition of Thomas Richardson of Leicester Shewing the 
Damage he Sustains by Reason of the Escape of Thomas Hall 
from his majestys Goal in Worcester where he was Comitted by 
Virtue of an Execution the petitioner had Served on him and that 
he apprehends it was thro' Some defe6l Either for want of a Suffi- 
cient Goal Goal Keeper &61 praying for Releife Upon Reading 
this Petition m'' Sheriff Gookin came into Court and Informed 
them that he had lately heard that the within named Thomas Hall 
was in y'^ Colony of Conne6licot and that he would Send out ad- 
vertisements after him in order for his being Taken, Therefore or- 
dered that the petition be Referred To y<= next Court of General! 
Sessions for further Consideration 



A By law of the Town of Leicester being presented To this 
Court was Read and approved of by the Court for the Term of 
three year and is on file 



At the Generall Sessions of the peace holden at Worcester with- 
in and for the County of Worcester on the Second Tuesday of 
may 1733 The Grandjury for the Body of the Said County Upon 
their Oaths do present John Jenings Husbandman and Elisabeth 
Jening Housewife wife of the Said John Jennings and Eliner Kel- 
log Spinster all of Brookfield In y«= County aforesaid Each and all 
10 



74 Court of Ge7ic7'al Sessions. \ tekm, 

of them for the Crime of fornication and Matthew Addleton Cooi)er 
and Thomas ainsworth Husbandman both of Brookfield afore- 
said for Unnecessarily absenting themselves from y'= publick wor- 
ship of God on the Lords days for more than Two months last 
past and also Jonathan Waldo & I'homas Fayerweather Gent for 
Travelling Unnecessaryly on the last lords day from oxford to 
Worcester In the Said County and also the Town of Leicester for 
their not being provided with a writing & Reading School master 
all which things are against the peace of our Sovereign Lord the 
King his Crown & Dignity &61 Ebenezer Learned foreman 



Mr Jonathan Waldo & Mr Thomas Fayerweather pleaded To y^ 
Lisufficiency of there presentment which being Duly Considered 
the Court ordered That they should be dismissed paying Cost 
which was paid. 



The Petitions of y« Town of Sutton and Hassanamisco present- 
ed this Court at their Sessions in February last praying that the 
Road lately laid out by order of this Court leading from Worcester 
To Mendon &6t Read again together with y*" answers of y^ Towns 
of Mendon & Uxbridge and being Duly Considered ordered that 
Said Petitions So far as they Relate to the altering Said Road be 
Dismissed and the Said Road is by the Said Court fully absolutely 
Settled & Determined to be the County Road leading from Wor- 
cester to Mendon & y^ Report or Return of y*^ Sheriff & Jury there- 
upon ordered to be Recorded 

The acco" of the Charge viewing & Laying out Said Road 
amounting unto the Sum of Thirty one pound Seven Shillings al- 
lowed of by the Court & is due To y«= following persons viz' 

To ye Comittee for viewing &dl 7 ' '° 
To Mr Sheriff Gookin : 3^ 2/ To Justice Dudley 

attending on ye Jury 38/ 5 ° ^ 

To the Jury Each 30/ 18^: To ye Clerk writing: &(fl 25/2 19 5 2 

;^3i 7 o 



i733-i Worcester County, Massachusetts. 75 

The Court thereupon ordered that Said Charge be paid by the 
Respedtive Towns through [which] y*^ Said Road Runs Viz' 

The Town uf Mention 'l"o pay Seven pounds Eight 

Shillings & Sixpence 786 

Uxbiidge Thirty three Shillings 113 o 

Hassanamisco Three pounds Six Shillings 360 

Sutton Twelve pounds Seven Shillings & Sixpence 12 7 6 

Worcester Six pounds Twelve Shillings 6 12 o 

£Z^ 7 O 

and order that the Clerk Serve y'= Towns with a Copy of This order 
That they assess tlie Respective Sum Laid on them and that the 
Same be paid To William Jenison Esqr To be by him paid To y« 
persons to whom the Same is Respe6lively Due 

The Return of y"^ Sheriff & Jury is as follows viz' 

Worcester ss To the Sheriff of the County of Worcester his 
under Sheriff or Deputy Greeting 

Whereas the Committee lately appointed by his majestys Court 
of Gen" Sessions of y^ peace, for the County of Worcester have 
made Report Concerning a Publick Highway or County Road be- 
tween the Towns of Worcester and Mendon being necessary and 
Convenient &6t as ^ their Report may appear 

^^ These are therefore In his Majestys name to Require 

\ ) and Command you to Sumon a Jury of Good and lawfull 
men Quallyfyed according to law to meet & assemble at 
the House of Cap' William Rawson in Mendon aforesaid on mon- 
day the Second day of 06lober next which Jury So Sumoned or 
Impanneled you are to Cause a proper oath to be administered to 
them by a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and then 
proceed to view & lay out a Publick highway or County Road be- 
tween the Towns aforesaid pursuant To the laws of this province 
and having a due Regard to the Report of the late Comittee 

hereof fail not & make due Return hereof with your doings herein 
to this Court at their next Sessions of the peace to be held here 
on the first Tuesday of November next as well under your own 



76 Court of General Sessions. \ tebm, 

hand as the hands of the Jury aforesaid Dated at Worcester this 
25''' day of September In the Sixth year of his majestys Reigne 
anno : Dom : 1732 

By order of Court John Chandler J Cle pac Worcester Octo- 
ber 2^ I 732 ; 

1732 In Observance of the within written warrant I have Im- 
pannelled a Jury as the law direfts who after being Sworn went 
upon the Spot and laid out the County Road from mendon meet- 
ing House to Worcester meeting House as "^ y^ annexed Dis- 
cription will appear under their hands 

Daniell Gookin Sheriff— Worcester O6I0 2*^ 1732 

In Observance of an order of the Court of General Sessions of 
the peace for the County of Worcester held at Worcester by ad- 
journment of the third Wednesday of September Last past ordered 
the Sheriff of S'^ County to Impoint a Jury of Good & Lawfull men 
& Have them Sworn before one of his majestys Justices of the 
peace of S'' County to Lay out a Country Road from Mendon to 
Worcester meeting House Accordingly the Sheriff of S** County 
Hath Impointed a Jury as afores** whose names are Hereafter Sub- 
scribed & Legally Sworn have Layed out S** Country Road on 
oath as Hereafter Discribed Imprimis beginning at mendon meet- 
ing House as the Road now Lyeth until it comes to the House of 
Decon John Teilor & from thence to a Rhoad of four Rods wide 
until it Comes to the House of Robert Teilor from thence by the 
Westerly side of a meadow Called eight acre meadow from thence 
to a Small Black oak tree Standing on the edge of a brook near a 
great Rock near the House of John Sadler & from thence as the 
Road is now Drawn until it come to a Red oak tree marked upon 
[ ] near a Brook by Sam" Woods Sawmil & from thence 

by marked trees to a very High Rock near the House of John 
Perim then Running between the House & barn of S** Perrim & 
So between the House & barn of Eleazer ffletcher, & So on till it 
Comes to the Land of Jacob Whipple & through S^ Land till it 
comes to a White oak tree on the bank of the River So Crossing 
Blackstons River & running to a heap of Rocks in Isaac Chases 
Land & So on to a White oak tree near the House of John Ward 



^733-\ Worcestei' County, IM a ssachusetts. jj 

from thence Leading to the Country Road by the House of ni' 
James Lealand then turning Westerly & Running by marked trees 
till it comes to a Red oak tree Standing on the Land of Sam" 
Chase & So on till it comes to a white oak tree Standing near the 
Dwelling House of Frances Dudley So Running to a white oak tree 
neare the House of Sam" Dudley Esq & So on to a Heap of Stones 
& So by marks to Stump of a tree & a heap of Stones in Will"' 
Waits Land then Crossing the River by a black oak tree marked 
& So Running on by the House of Skiper Fairfield by marked 
trees till it Comes to the House of Deacon Natha" Moore in 
Worcester & by the House of Jonas Rice thence to the House of 
Tirus Rice & So running by the House of the Revr^ M"" Isaac Burr 
untill it Comes to the meeting House in Worcester bounded being 
on the Northerly & Easterly Side of S'* Road & S" Road to be 
four Rods on the Southwesterly Side afores'' Boundaries 

Gershom Rice Jonas Rice James Keith William Rawson Jo- 
seph White Daniell Haywood James Holdin James Lealand 
Joseph Crosby John Sibley John Sadler Robert Barber 



Mr Jonathan Houghton County Treasurer presented his acco" 
To the Court the ballance due to the County being twenty four 
pounds 1/4 Read Ex^ & accepted & the Clerk ordered to 

Signe the Same in the name of the Court, 

Then y'= Court was adjourned without day 

att' John Chandler J Cler 



Worcester ss Anno R^ R^ Gcorgij Secundi 7tunc 
Mag7ice Brittainice et Hibernice Septimo O 

Att his majestys Court of Generall Sessions of y" 
peace begun and held at Worcester in and for 
the County of Worcester on the Second Tues- 
day of August being the 14^'' day of Said 
month Anno Dom : 1733 



John Chandler 
Joseph Wilder 
William Ward 
William Jenison 
Danl Taft 



1 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

John Chandler Jun Henry Lee \ 

"^ \ Esqs 

I NahumWard) 



J 



Sam' Wright 

I 
\ Esqs Josiah Willard [- Esqs 

I 
Joseph Dwight | 

J 
Sam' Dudley 

Grand jury that attended. 



M'' Gershom Rice foreman 

Cap' Richard Moore 

M' Hooker Osgood 

M"" James Moore 

M' William Richardson 

M' Thomas Thayre 

M' Edward Morris 

Cap' W" Old : 

M' David Maynard 



M^ Sam' Lillie 

M' W'" Brown 

M' James Newton 

M'' Moses How 

M"' Richard Davenport 

M' John Emerson 

M'' Sam' Johnson 



M'' Jon" Farnsworth 
Each attended 2 days Except Cap' Old who attended one day 
Isaac Moore Constable i day 



i733-i Worcester Cotmty, Massachusetts. 79 

Worcester ss The Grandjurors of our Sovereign Lord the King 
for the body of y« Said County at a Generall Sessions of y^ peace 
holden at Worcester within and for the said County of Worcester 
on y^ Second Tuesday of August 1 733 upon their Oaths do present 
That Jonathan Lamb Gent and Lydia Lamb Housewife and wife 
of the Said Jonathan Lamb and Solomon Johnson Gent all of Lei- 
cester in Said County Each and all of them have absented them- 
selves from the Publick Worship of (iod on y«^ Lords days for more 
then Twelve weeks last past That Solomon Johnson aforesaid on 
or about y'^ thirteenth day of July last past was Guilty of Drunken- 
ness in Leicester aforesaid. That the Said Solomon Johnson on 
ye 14"' day of August Current did prophanely Swear in Worcester 
in y- County aforesaid That Richard Wheeler of Worcester in 
our Said County Housewright hath not attended the Publick Wor- 
ship of God on y*^ Lords days for more than Eight weeks last past 
That Daniel Eliott of Sutton in Said County husbandman on y^ 
last Lords day being in Uxbridge did unecessarily IVavell To Sut- 
ton in Said County. That Rachell Wilder of Lancaster in Said 
County Spinster on the first day of September last past was Guilty 
of the Crime of Fornication in Lancaster aforesaid. That Joseph 
Perry of Brookfield in Said County hath not attended y^ Publick 
Worship of God on Lords days for more than Eight weeks last 
past all which severall adions of the Severall forenamed persons 
are high Criminall and against y^ peace of our Sovereign Lord 
George by y-' Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland 
King Defender of the ffaith <S:6l and the Good and wholsom laws 
of this province Joseph Dwight attorney pro Dom Reg" 

Billa vera Gershom Rice foreman 



Richard Wheeler of Worcester in y*^ County of Worcester 
Housewright being presented by the Grandjurors for y"^ body of y'^ 
County of Worcester To this present Court for not attending on 
the Publick Worship of God on y«^ Lords days for more than Eight 
weeks last past Came into Court and Confessed himself Guilty but 
gave his Reasons therefor The Court thereupon order he be Dis- 
missed paying Costs which he did c^ withdrew 



Ar<it:KT 



80 Court of General Sesstons. \ TE*'Ji" 

James Nuting and Josiah Nuting both of Hassanamisco In y<^ 
County of Worcester husbandmen appeared in Court and to their 
presentment by y« Grandjurors for y^ body of y^ County of Wor- 
cester In Febry last past for Traveling Unecessarily on y<^ Saturday 
evening after Sun Sett before the Lords day from Lancaster to 
Groton pleaded not Guilty & putt him Self on Tryall by the bench 
and after a full hearing The Court ordered they Should be dis- 
charged paying Cost vv'^'' they p'' 



Mathew Addleton of Brookfield in y'^ County of Worcester, 
Cooper being presented by y*^ Grandjurors for y<^ body of y'^ County 
of Worcester in may last for Unnecessaryly absenting himself from 
y^ Publick worship of God &6t appeared in Court & pleaded 
Guilty Whereupon y<= Court ordered him To pay a fine to our 
Sovereign Lord y*^ King of five Shillings & Cost of prosecution 
Standing Comitted till Sentance be performed which he paid & 
was discharged 



John Elisons Recognizance was Discharged. 
Paul Rich's Recognizance Discharged 



Eleaner Kellog being bound over by way of Recognizance by 
m"" Justice D wight To answer To her presentment by the Grand- 
jurors &61 for her being Guilty of y^ Crime of fornication appeared 
in Court and pleaded Guilty of having a bastard Child born of her 
body The Court Thereupon ordered that She pay as a fine to 
our Sovereign Lord y« King The Sum of five pounds or be whipt 
on the naked body Ten stripes & pay Cost of prosecution, y'^ fine 
& Cost were paid and her Recognizance Discharged 



Martha McKintree of Dudley Spinster being bound by way of 
Recognizance to appear at y^ Court of Gen" Sessions of y^ peace 



1 733-! Worcester County, Massachusetts. 8i 

held here in may last To answer for being Guilty of Fornication 
and not being able To Travell then her bonds were Continued To 
this Court She now appeared in Court pleaded Guilty where- 
upon the Court Order That for her Crime She pay a fine of four 
pounds to our Sovereign Lord the King pay Costs of prosecution 
and Stand Comitted till Sentance be performed The fine & Costs 
were paid 



The Town of Leicester being presented to the Court in may 
last for not being provided with a writing & Reading Schoolmaster 
as y^ law Requires appeared by their Seledmen & it appearing 
that they are now provided they were Exempted They paying 
Costs 



Timothy Sewell of Mendon in y^ County of Worcester &a hus- 
bandman being bound over to this Court by m' Justice Taft with 
Two Suretys To answer to Such things as Should be Objeded 
against him on his majestys behalf Relateing To a Complaint 
against him by Eben"" Cook of Mendon &a and failing of ap- 
pearing the Recognizance was by the Court declared forfeited 
and the Clerk ordered To Send out a Scire facias against y^ Said 
Sewall & his Suretys to appear at the next Court of Gen" Sessions 
of y*^ peace to be holden here in Nov' next To give Reason if any 
they have wherefore Execution Should not be awarded against 
them &61 



Samuel Wadkins of Hopkinton in y*^ County of midlesex &61 
Joyner al' Husbandman being bound over to this Court by m' Jus- 
tice 1 afft with Two Suretys to answer To Such Things as should 
be objeded [against] him on his majestys behalf Relateing to a 
Complaint made against [him] by one Samuel Woods of mendon 
ckft, and failing of appearing the Recognizance was by y*^ Court 
declared forfeited and y^ Clerk ordered To Send out a Scire facias 



I I 



82 Court of General Sessions. \ r^^^J 

against Said Wadkins & his bondsmen To apear at y^ Court of 
Gen" Sessions of y^ peace in Nov'' next To give Reason if any 
they have wherefore Execution Should not be awarded against 
them 



The Sele6l men of the Town of Worcester Returned a warrant 
whereby they had warned one Thomas Peirce with his wife martha 
& four Children namely Heaty John Nicholas & Thomas to depart 
the Town it being probable they be become a Town Charged 
which was approved off & is on file 



Thomas Green & Dan' Deny Return'd a list of y^ Baptists in 
Leicester according To y^ Order of Court of Febry 1 731/2 ap- 
proved off as also the list from Sutton 



A Petition of y^ Rev'' m"" David Parsons of Leicester Seting forth 
ye necesaty of Road or way being laid out leading from Rutland 
to Leicester from meeting House to meeting house praying Ef- 
fe6lual Care may be taken to settle a way there as y*^ law Dire6ts. 
Read, as also a petition of Daniel Deny & John Whitemore against 
Said petition being adted upon, also Read ; and In answer thereto 
ye Court order that Said Petitions be Refered to the next Court 
of Gen" Sessions of y^ peace to be holden here in november next 
and In the mean time the Court appoint William Ward & Sam' 
Wright Esqr' and Cap' Ebenezer Learned of oxford to be a Com- 
ittee to view y^ lands in and between the Towns of Rutland and 
Leicester and make Report To the Said Court what may be proper 
to be Done in the premises. 



An acco" of William Calwell Late Constable of Worcester for 
Attending on the grandjury amounting to Thirty two Shillings. 
Read and allowed of by the Court and the County Treasurer is 
accordingly ordered to pay the Same 



1 733- 1 Worcester County, ATassachuseiis. 8 



o 



The Honourable' Jolin Chandler Esqr made a motion to y^ 
Court Informing them of y^ necessaty of a County Road being 
laid out from y" Road leading from Worcester To Mendon lately 
Established by this Court & the Southern bounds of the Town of 
Dudley to the bounds of Conne6licott Colony & also of y'' Diffi- 
culty persons Travelling To the Shire Town from the Southward 
parts of y*" County Lye under for want of a Sutable & Convenient 
Road moveing for Remedy, The Court having Considered y"^ 
matter Order «Sr appoint That William Jenison Esqr Cap' Richard 
Moore & Cap" Ebenezer Edmunds be a Comittee To view & make 
Report what they think proper for the Court To a6l hereon, and 
they are desired to Report To the Court of Generall Sessions of 
y'^ peace In november next 



Ordered that the Clerk of y'= Court Signe an order Dire6ling y^ 
County Treasurer from time to time to ])ay To y^ Comittees for 
building The Court house & Prisons Respe6lively Such Sums of 
money as are Still due according to their Contra6ls for building the 
Same and also what may be due for Such ffurther aditions as are 
made over and above y«^ originall Contra6ls 



Worcester ss Afino Regni Regis Georgij Sccundi 
nunc Mag7ice BrittainicE Francice et Hibcrnice 
Septimo ^3 

/\.tt a Court of Generall Sessions of y'' peace be- 
gun and held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester on the first Tuesday of 
November being the Sixth day of Said month 
Annoq Dom : 1733 



PRESENT 

John Chandler Esq Joseph Wilder Esq 
William Jenison Esq Danl Taft Esq 
Joseph Dwight Esq Nahum Ward Esq 



William Ward Esq 
Samuel Dudley Esq 
John Chandler Jr Esq 



Names of y^ Grandjurors that attended 

M' Gershom Rice foreman . 
Cap' Richard Moore 



M' Hooker Osgood 
M'' James Moore 
M'' WiUiam Richardson 
M'' Thomas Thayre 
M"" Edward Moris 
Cap' W" Old : 



M'' David Maynard 
M^ Sam' Lillie 
M"" W'" Brown 
M' James Newton 
M' Moses How 
M'' Richard Davenport 
M'' Sam' Johnson 
M'' Jon" Farnsworth 



Each attended Two days and Constable Isaac Moore 2 days 



1733-1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 85 

Worcester ss att a Generall Sessions of y« Peace holden at 
Worcester within and for tlie County of Worcester on Tuesday y'= 
Sixth day of November anno Domini 1 733, The Grandjurors for 
ye body of y^ Said County upon their Oaths do presentt ; That 
Dudley Jordan and Benjamin Smith both of Lambs Town^ as So 
Called in Said County Husbandman did on y"^ 28"' day of oftober 
last past being y'^ Lords day Unnecessaryly Travell through y^ 
Town of Shrewsbury In Said County — and also that the 

wife of Thomas Hutchins of Dudley in Said County hath Unneces- 
saryly absented herself from the from y'^ Publick Worship of God 
on y'^ Lords days for more than Two months last past, and also 
That David Haynes of Sudbury in y'^ County of Midlesex Gent 
and Samuel Waldo of Boston in y<= County of Suffolk merchant 
and George Mareiss of Boston aforesaid Waiter did each and all 
of them Unecessaryly Travell from Rutland to Worcester On y« 
Lords day being y^ 23'' day of September last past — and also that 
Samuel Bridges Husbandman & Mary Godman Housewife and 
Mehittable Bridges Spinster all of Mendon in y'^ County of Wor- 
cester and Bethhya Gassett of Southborough in Said County Spin- 
ster Each and all of them for Unecessaryly absenting themselves 
from Y' Publick Worship of God for more then Two months last 
past ; and also that Daniel Taft of Mendon in y<= County of Wor- 
cester Esqr about Six weeks Since at y<^ House of William Jenison 
iLsqr in Worcester in Said County did Wittingly and WiUingly 
make and Spread a false Report against Samuel Terry of Mendon 
aforesaid Clerk with Litent to abuse and deceive y^ Said Terrey 
and Others by Saying that m" Rawson Told him y' the Said Ter- 
rey was so bad of it (meaning that he was So disguised with drink 
that he was led or put To bed on one Scacrament day night and 
that Grindall Rawson and m"" Dorr were y^ persons that put him 
To bed all which things are against the peace of our Sovereign 
Lord George by y<= Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ire- 
land King defender of y-^ faith &a and y^ Good and wholsome laws 
of tliis province Joseph Dwight attorney pro Rego 

Gershom Rice foreman 

Entered ^ Jn" Chandler J^ Cle pac 

' Now I lardwick. 



NoVEMliEK 



86 Court of General Sessions. P"rMM, 

Amariah Bush's Recognizance Discharged 

Nathaniel Waits Recognizance Discharged 

Abigaill Lesure Recognizance Discharged &61 

Sam" Terrey Clerk Complaint against Abigal Lesure withdrawn 

Samuel Wadkins Recognizance discharged 

Timothy Sewell Recognizance Discharged 



William Ward Esqr one of y*^ Comittee To whom the Petition of 
the Revered m"" David Parsons was present to y^ Court in august 
last past was comitted made a report, whereon Upon y*^ Court or- 
der that the affair Relating thereto Lye till y'^ further order of this 
Court 



A vote or By Law of y^ Town of Woodstock being presented to 
y*^ Court for their allowance and approbation y*^ Same was accord- 
ingly approved off and is on file 



A memoriall of Thomas Palmer Esqr Seting forth y' y^ Jury in lay- 
ing out the way To Mendon runs it through his Orchyard & mowing 
land & not agreeable To y^ Report of y*^ Comittee which is as he 
apprehends through a mistake pray the Said mistake may be Re6li- 
fied &61 Read and ordered that the Said memoriall & y^ Subje6l 
matter thereof be Comitted To William Jenison & Henry Lee Esq"" 
That they view y'^ Road where y'^ mistake is Supposed To be done 
& Report as Soon as may be what they may think proper for the 
Court to doe thereupon. 



An acco" of Daniel Gookin Esqr Sheriff of y^ County of Wor- 
cester amounting unto y^ Sum of Twenty Two pounds three Shill- 
ings for Sundry Services & Sallary &61 as ^ y^ acco" appears 
Read & Examined and order that the Said acco' be allowed & The 
Treasurer of y^ County is accordingly ordered To [pay] y^ Said 
Sum of Twenty Two pounds three Shillings To Daniel Gookin Esqr 
in full Discharge thereof. 



1 733- 1 Worcester Cotmty, Massachusetts. 87 

Samuel Terrey of Mendon in the County of Worcester Clerk 
appellant from a Sentance given against him by Daniel Taft Esqr 
one of his majestys Justices of the peace for Said County Upon 
y^ Complaint or information of William Torrey of Mendon aforesaid 
Husbandman on his majestys behalf for his the Said Terrys being 
Drunk in y*^ Town of Mendon &61 whereby he was Sentanced To 
pay a fine for the Use of y^ poor of y*^ Town of Mendon y*^ Sum 
of five Shillings & fees & Cost of Sute &61 as "^ y*^ Complaint The 
Sentance appears and now y*^ appellant appeared and put him 
Self upon Tryall of his plea of not Guilty by the Court The Evi- 
dences in behalf of our Sovereign Lord y'^ King were Sworn & y^ 
Case fully and maturely heard Its Therefore Considered by the 
Court That the former Sentance be Confirmed & that therefore 
y«= Said Samuel Terrey pay as a fine To y^ Use of y'^ poor of y^ 
Town of Mendon The Sum of five Shillings with former and ad- 
ditional Costs and Stand comitted untill This Sentance be per- 
formed, y«^ fine & Costs were paid in Court & y'= appel' Dismissed 



Eben"' Albee of Mendon &6t appel' from a Judgment given 
against him by William Jenison Esqr as appears by y' Judgm* on 
file, This Case was comitted to the Jury and it appearing To be 
a mistryal inasmuch as y*^ Jury Seperated before they had agreed 
upon a Verdi6l Therefore y^ Court order That This Case be Con- 
tinued To y^ i" Tuesday of Febry next of which all persons Con- 
cerned are To take notice and Conform them Selves accordingly 



Tom Negro of Leicester In the County of Worcester Labourer 
Servant of Cap" Thomas Steel of Boston Gent being presented by 
ys Grandjurors for the body of the County aforesaid for y' y« Said 
Tom Negro being at Worcester aforesaid on or about y*^ 22'' day 
of September last past did find a Certain Pockett book or Case 
with a Three pound Bill and one Ten Shilling Bill and a letter 
therein all which things belonged to Ralph Earl of Leicester in 
Said County Yeoman and y«^ Said things y*^ Said Tom having So 



XOVKMBEB 



88 Coui't of Genei^al Sessions. P"term,' 

found did and doth Still negle6l & Refuse to enter with y^ Town 
Clerk Cry and post as y^ law Requires all which is against y^ peace 
of our Lord y*^ King his Crown & Dignity «S: y<^ good andWhol- 
some laws of this province as appears by y^ presentment The 
said Tom Negro came into Court & pleaded To y^ Insufficiency 
of y*^ presentment as ^ y'^ pleas on file which were over-Ruled and 
the said Tom Negro pleaded not Guilty & put himself upon Tryall 
by y^ Court, The witnesses In the Case were Sworn and the mat- 
ter being duly Considered the Court are of opinion that the Said 
Tom Negro found the Three pound bill and The Ten Shilling bill 
as sett forth in y^ presentment and y^ pockett book of y'^ Value of 
one Shilling and that he hath neglec?ted Entering crying and post- 
ing up the Same according to law I'hat therefore the Said Tom 
Negro Hath forfeited to y*^ use of y*^ poor of y^ Town of Leicester 
The sum of Twenty three Shillings & Eight pence for his negledi: ; 
& y' pay y*^ Sum of three pounds Eleven Shillings To y^ Said Ralph 
Earl being y^ money found & y^ Value of y^ Book and pay Costs 
Standing Comitted Till This Sentance be performed. The Said Tom 
Negro appealed from This Sentance To y^ next Court of assize and 
General Goal delivery To beholden at Worcester in and for y^ County 
of Worcester on the Wednesday Imediately preceeding The time 
by law appointed for holding Said Court of assize and Generall 
Goal delivry at Springfield in and for the County of Hampshire 
in September next and entered into Recognizance with Two Suffi- 
cient Suretys to prosecute his appeal with EffecSl. —Tom Negro of 
Leicester In y^ County of Worcester Labourer as principall In y^ 
Sum of Twenty pounds and Thomas Steel Jun'' of Boston In y*^ 
County of Suffolk Gent and Edmund Goff al" Trowbridge of Cam- 
bridge in the County of Midlesex Gent as Suretys In Ten pounds 
Each acknowledged themselves bound by way of Recognizance To 
our Sovereign Lord y^ King his heirs and Successors to be Leveyed 
on their Severall goods or Chattells lands or Tenements for the use 
of our Lord y^ King Conditioned that the Said Negro Tom prose- 
cute his appeal as aforesaid with Effe6f 

att' John Chandler L Cle pac 



1 733- 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 89 

Our Sovereign Lord the King pla' versus Obadiah Coolidge of 
marlbro' In the County of midlesex Cordwainer Versus William 
Taylor & abraham Eager Jun'' both of Shrewsbury In the County 
of Worcester Deft^ as '^ a Scire facias Served on them & duly Re- 
turned dated July 2'' 1 733, appears, and now y^ Said Obadiah 
Coolidge who was the principal did not appear but the said Wil- 
liam Taylor «S: abraham Eager y^ Suretys appeared and pleaded in 
abatement of y^ process as appears by y^ pleas which being duly 
Considered by the Court Its ordered that y'^ writt of Scire facias 
abate 



12 



Worcester ss An7io F} R^ Georgij Secundi nu7ic 
MagncE Bintanice FrancicB et HibernicB Septimo 

/Vtt a Court of Generall Sessions of y"" peace be- 
gun and held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester on the first Tuesday of 
February being the fifth day of Said month 
Annoq Dom. 1733/: — 

JUSTICES PRESENT 

John Chandler Esq"" Danl Taft Esq"" Joseph Dwight Esq"" 

Joseph Wilder Esq"' John Chandler JrEsq"" Sam' Dudley Esq"' 
William Ward Esq'' Samuel Wright Esq"' Nahum Ward Esq"" 
William Jenison Esq'' Henry Lee Esq' Edward Hartwell Esq'' 

John Keyes Esq"" 

Grandjury that attended were 

M"" Gershom Rice foreman M"" Tho' Thayer 

Cap' Richard Moore M"" Edward Morris 

M' Hooker Osgood Cap' William Old 

M"" James Moore M"" David Maynard 

M"" Samuel Lillie M'' Richard Davenport 

M' William Brown M' Sam' Johnson 

M"" James Newton M'' Jonathan Farnsworth 

M' Moses How M"" John Emerson 

Each attended 2 days and Isaac Moore Constable also 

The presents are on file 



i733-i ViWcester County, Massachusetts. 91 

The Court order that for y^ future and untill y^ further order this 
Court that Thursday be y^ day more Imediately Set a part for y^ 
Doing of Sessions business 



John Jennings of Brookfield In y^ County of Worcester Hus- 
bandman and EHzabeth Jenings his wife being presented by the 
Grandjurors &61 for y"^ Crime of fornication appeared & Confessed 
themselves Guilty were find Each fourty Shillings To y^ King w"*" 
they pay'd & also Cost and were Dismissed 



Peter Marville of Mendon In y^ County of Worcester Physitian 
being presented by y^ Grandjurors &61 as "^ y*^ presentment ap- 
pears, appeared and pleaded to the Insufficiency of y'^ presentment, 
which being duly considered ordered That y^ presentment be 
Quashed & y^ Said Marville was Dismissed paying Cost 



Samuell Crawford of Hassamisco In y^ County of Worcester 
weaver appellant from a Judgment given ag'' him by John Chand- 
ler J' Esqr, as "^ y^ Judgt & recognizance appears came into Court 
& fulfilled y« Judgm' of y^ Justice & leave himself on y^ mercy of 
the Court, he was Dismissed paying Costs &61 



Daniel Eliott J'' of Sutton &61 being presented by y^ Grand- 
jurors for Rideing on the Lords day as "^ y^ presentment appears 
appeared and was Dismissed paying Cost 



Benjamin Davis also Ephraim Haywood & Jonas Haywood the 
Recognizances Discharged by order of Court 



A Report of William Jenison Esqr & Eben'' Edmunds Two of a 
Comittee appointed by this Court in august last past to view & 



Fkbbuaky 



92 Court of General Sessions. \ "tekm 

Report to this Court concerning y^ laying out a Country Road 
leading from the Country Road lately Established by S'' Court 
from Worcester to mendon to the Southerly bounds of y^ Town of 
Dudley &.&. made Report of their doings which Vere Read & ac- 
cepted and ordered To lye on file & the Charge thereof being five 
days to William Jenison Esqr fifty Shillings & four days to Eben' 
Edmunds fourty ShiUings & their Expenses being fourty Shillings 
also allowed 



The Selectmen of Brookfield presented to y^ Court y^ warning 
of margarett m'^Troy with her Child Dan' m'Troy also James Tute 
and his wife Kesiah Tute with their Children viz' mary Tute thank- 
full Tute and amos Tute, as ^ y^ warrant warning &61 appears and 
is on file 



The Sele6l men of y^ Town of Southboro' under their hands In- 
formed this Court that one John Steer & his wife late from the 
Kingdom of Ireland. &6t had been warned out of their Return, 
praying Caution may be Entered thereof as ^^ y'= Information on 
file appears 



The Seleftmen of the Town of Harvard presented a warrant 
which was Executed by John Daly Constable of S*^ Town, where- 
by Seth Colwes & his wife & Children were warned To Depart 
Said Town, which is on file 



A Vote or By law of y*^ Town of Rutland was presented to this 
Court by Sam" Wright Esqr In behalf of Said Town viz', Att a 
Town meeting of the Inhabitants of Rutland legally warned De- 
cember 12"' 1733. & Vote in Said meeting that a Tax of five Shill- 
ings '^ head shall be laid on all horses & neat Cattle that be brought 
into the Town of Rutland to Graze or Sumer there by any person 
or persons other then proprietors and they for any other then 
proprietors Cattle or horses or oxen hired to work or Cows to give 



1733-4-5 Worcester Coufity, Massachusetts. 93 

milk and that if any person or persons living in or belonging to 
Rutland aforesaid Shall bring in or take any Strangers Cattle or 
horses brought into Said Town to keep or take Care or Charge of 
Such Creatures Shall be obliged to Render an acco" upon oath 
what e^ how many Such horses or Cattle they have y^ Charge of 
or Knowing to and Shall pay five Shillings "^ head for all Such 
horses or Cattle as are in their Care or Charge the money to be 
for the use of y^ Town and this a6l to be laid before the Justices 
at y^ next Quarter Sessions to be held at Worcester for y^ County 
of Worcester for their Confirmation, Voted that Samuell Wright 
Esqr is Chosen by the Town to lay y^ above Written a6l before y'^ 
Said Court for Confirmation Samuel Wright moder'', 
which is accepted alowed & approved of y'' Justices &61 



Lydia Lamb Recog' Discharged 
Jonathan Lamb Recognizance Discharged 
John Hambleton Recognizance Discharged 
Samuell Bridges Recog' Discharged 



Solomon Johnson of Leicester being presented by y^ Grand- 
jurers for y'^ Crime of Drunkeness, was bound to appear at y^ Court, 
did appear, and there being no Evidences against him was Dis- 
missed paying Cost which was 38/6 

Solomon Johnson above being presented by y^ Grandjurors for 
unecessaryly absenting him Self from y^ publick Worship of God 
& bound To answer it at this Court appeared and y'^ Evidences 
not being to be had he was dismissed paying Cost w'^'' was 38/6 

Solomon Johnson above being presented by the Grandjurers for 
ye Crime of prophane Swearing y^ Evidences not appearing he was 
dismissed paying Cost w''"' was 38/6 

Solomon Johnson above appelant from Judgment of William 
Ward Esqr appeared & Submitted y"^ matter To y'^ Court who Con- 
firmed former Judgment with additional Cost y'^ whole being 54/ 
& y^ fine 5/ 



94 Court of General Sessions. \ ^^tII^^^ 

The Court order that there be a County Tax or assessment 
amounting unto the Sum of one hundred & fifty Seven pounds 
Eight Shillings & nine pence Raised on the Several] Towns within 
this County for defraying the usuall necessary Charges arising with 
the Same and that the Clark of this Court forthwith Send out war- 
rants To y^ Sele6l men or assessors of y'^ Respective Towns for 
assessing their Severall parts or proportions thereof according to y'' 
rule for assessing the province Charges as the law direft & for pay- 
ing in the Same to Capt Benjamin Flagg County Treasurer at or 
before the last day of may next ensueing. 

The Severall Towns proportion thereof is as follows — vizt 

Worcester Eleven pound Seven Shillings & Eight pence ii 78 

Lancaster Twenty Six pound three Shillings & four pence 26 3 4 

Mendon Eighteen pound 18 

Woodstock Sixteen pound 16 

Brookfield thirteen pound Ten Shilling & Eight pence 13 10 8 

Southboro Eight pound thirteen Shilling 8130 

Westboro' Nine pound one Shilling 9 I O 

Leicester Six pound nineteen Shillings & Eight pence 6198 

Shrewsbury Seven pound Seven Shillings 7 7 

Sutton Twelve pound five Shillings 12 5 

Oxford Seven pound Two Shilling 7 2 

Uxbridge Six pound & fourpence 604 

Rutland three Pound Eighteen Shillings 3 18 o 

Lunenbifrg three pound Eighteen Shillings 3 iS 

Harvard Seven pound Three Shillings & one peny 7 3 1 

Sum Total 157 89 

And warrants were accordingly Issued out march i^' 1733/4 

att' John Chandler Cle : pac 



Jonathan Lamb of Leicester In y'^ County of Worcester Gent', 
being Complained of by m"" Richard Davenport and m'' William 
Brown two of the present Grandjurymen for this County &61 In 
behalf of them Selves & Said Grandjurors as well in behalf of our 
Lord the King that y*^ Said Jonath Lamb about Ten days Since in 
y^ Town of Shrewsbury in Said County and at other times did abuse 



i733"4'i Worcester County, Massachusetts. 95 

and Defame y'^ Said Grandjurors by Saying that they were perjured 
&61 against y^ peace, being by order of Court by warrant from y*^ 
Clark brought To answer to Said Complaint, acknowledged the 
fa6ls laid against him whereupon the Court adjudged the Said 
Jonathan Lamb was Guilty of abuseing y^ Grandjurors aforesaid, 
and the Said Jonathan Lamb behaving himself in a Rude & dis- 
orderly maner in y'^ Court, the Court [order] that he be Comitted 
To his majestys Goal there to Remain Till y*-' further order of this 
Court and he was accordingly Comitted, and upon his humble and 
hearty Concern for his offences as Expressed in his petition pray- 
ing y^ favour of y*^ Court &6t, the Court order that for his Said of- 
fences he pay a fine to the King of fourty Shillings & pay Cost & 
fees & to Stand Comitted till this Sentance is performed which 
he paid in Court 



Sarauell Terry of Mendon in y^ County of Worcester Clerk ap- 
pellant from a Sentance given against him by Daniel Taft Esqr 
one of his majestys Justices of the peace for the Said County Up- 
on a Complaint or Information of William Torrey of Mendon afore- 
TERRY said Husbandman on his majestys behalf for 

DOM REX his y^ Said Terrys being drunk in the Town of 

JURY Mendon &61 whereby he was Sentenced to pay 

Mr James Houiin? ^ hic for y*^ usc of y*^ poor of the Town of 
Mrpiniiaywoud Mcudou fivc Shillings & Cost & fees as 19 y^ 

Jlr David Osgiiml o \i J 

Mr Kb: Walker Complaiut & Sentaucc of Said Justice appears 

'MrihiprstiniiiiKis This appeal was originally brought To y^ Court 

MTln'^oMatu!! ' '' ' of Gcnerall Scsslous of y^ pcacc held here on 

Mr Na: Parks ^j-^g f^j.^^ Tucsday of Nov"" last when & where 

Mr D. Ilnbard -' 

MrAaruiiRice y^ Scutcnce of Said Justice was Confirmed &61 

Mr Win Holdway , r^-ir~. it. »i •!• 

and upon y*^ Said Samuel Terry Adressing hun- 
self To y^ Great & Gen' Court or assembly of y*= province he was 
Enabled now again to prosecute his appeal as "^ y^ order of Said 
Court of Jan'y last past appears, and now the Said Samuell Terry 
appeared and pleaded not Guilty and the Case being fully argued 
& heard it was Comitted To y^ Jury who were Sworn according to 



q6 Court of General Sessions. \ ^^11^^^ 

law To trye the Same & Returned their Verdi6l in that y'^ Said 
Samuell Terry is not Guilty The Court Therefore order Rever- 
sion of y^ former Judgment & that the Said Samuell l^rry be dis- 
charged paying Cost & fees Taxed at Seven pound and upon his 
nedeilins so to do the Court order Execution to be awarded for 
y^ Same and that it be paid into y^ hands of the Clark of this Court 
to be by him paid to whom the Same is due 



DOM^REx Ebenezer Albee of mendon in y^ County of 

EB. ALBEE Worcestcr Husbandman appel' from a Judg- 

samejurjjnsmyecase nient Or Sentauce given against him by William 
Jenison Esq one of his majestys Justices of y^ 
peace for Said County Upon y'^ Complaint of Samuell Terrey of 
mendon in Said County Clark on his majestys behalf as well as of 
his own as ^ y'^ Complaint appears & Sentance was given by Said 
Justice y' y^ Said Eb albee pay a fine of Ten Shillings to y^ use of 
y^ poor of mendon & Cost as ^ Sentence will appear and now y*^ 
Said Ebenezer Albee appearing and pleaded not Guilty, The Jury 
being Sworn according to law, The Case after a full hearing on 
both Sides was Comitted To the Jury To Trye y'^ Same who Re- 
turned there Verdi6l therein as follows vizt Not Guilty Its there- 
fore Considered by the Court that the Sentence of y« Said William 
Jenison Esqr be Reversed and that the Said Ebenezer Albee be 
Discharged pay ffees & Costs which ffes and Costs is Taxed at 
fourteen pounds Eighteen Shillings atid upon his neglening to pay 
the Same The Court order Execution to be awarded for the Same 
and that it be paid into y^ hands of y'^ Clerk of this Court to be 
by him paid to whom the Same is due 

Sep'. 1 6 : Satisfied att' John Chandler J CI 



TORREY William Torrey of Mendon in the County of 

noM. REX Worcester app" from a Sentence given against 

^^'other'-casel"-'" him by William Jenison Esqr one of his majes- 
tys Jus' of y« peace for Said County upon y« 
Complaint or Information of Samuel Terrey of Mendon in Said 



1 733-4- i Worcester County, Massachusetts. 97 

County Clerk who did Complain on his majestys behalf as well as 
of his own That about y*^ month of October last past before y^ 
Complaint at mendon aforesaid y<= Said William Torrey being 
minded to abuse Scandalize & defame y^ Complain' did then & 
there wittingly & willingly Publish a Lye of y*" Complain' &61 by 
Saying he had drunk & he could prove it or Sware to it or words 
to that Effect or Import as ^ y'^ Complaint at large ai)pcars & the 
appeP was Sentenced to pay a fine to y^ King Ten Shillings and 
pay ffees & Cost &61. and now y^ appel' appeared and to Said 
Complaint pleaded not Guilty. The Evidences on y^ part of the 
King being Sworn & the Case fully heard It was Comitted To y«^ 
Jury who were Sworn according to law To Trye the Same & Re- 
turn'd their verdi6t therin upon oath viz' That y*^ said William 
Torrey is not Guilty Its therefore Considered by the Court that 
the Sentence of the Said Justice be reversed & that y« Appel' be 
Discharged paying Cost, Taxed at Twenty pound nine Shillings & 
Sixpence but upon his neglecting to pay y*= Same The Court order 
Execution to be awarded for the Same and that it be paid into y^ 
hands of y'= Clark of this Court to be by him paid To whom y^ 
Same is due 



GOWEN 
vs 

DO.M. REX 



Same Jury as in ye 
UtUcr Cases 



Benjamin Gowen of Sutton in y^ County of 
Worcester Yeoman app" from Sentence given 
against him by John Chandler Junr Esqr one 
of his majestys [justices] of y^ peace for Said 
County upon the Complaint of Robert Jenison of Said Sutton Yeo- 
man who Complained on his majestys behalf as well as of his own 
&ct and l)y Said Sentence y*^ now appel' was sentenced to pay as 
a fine to our Sovereign Lord y^ King five Shillings & pay Costs & 
fees &6\ as "^ y^ warrant and Sentence of Said Justice fully appears 
— and n(^w y'^ appel' appeared & to the S'' Complaint pleaded not 
Guilty the Case being fully & largely argued & heard It was Com- 
itted to y<^ Jury who were Sworn according to law To Trye y^ Same 
& Return'd there Virdid; therein upon Oath that is To Say The 
said Benjamin Gowen is not Guilty Its therefore Considered by the 

13 



98 Court of Gejteral Sessions. T'rEBMf"' 

Court that the Sentence of y^ Justice shall be reversed and that y^ 
appelt be Discharged paying Cost Taxed at Nine pound Two 
Shillings & four pence and upon his negle6ling to pay y*^ Same the 
Court order Execution to be awarded for y^ Same and that it be 
paid into the hands of y^ Clark of this Court to be by him paid To 
whome y^ Same is due Ex*^ July 11 : 1734 



NEWELL Thomas Newell of Dudley in y^ County of 

DOM REX Worcester Cordwainer app" from a Sentence 

JURY given against him by John Chandler J Esq'' one 

Mr James Holding ^f |-,jg niajcstys Tustices of y^ peace for Said 

Mr Phi- Haywood J J J J f 

Mr David Osgood Couuty upon y^ Complaint of John Runel of 

Mr Hopestiii Hhids SaldDudlcy Joyner who Complained on his 
Mr Samuel Beamons majcstys behalf as wcll as of his own &a for 

Mr John Matthis •' •' 

Mr Na. Parks that y^ S'^ NCWCU being minded to abuse & de- 

Mr Oanl Hubbard ^ „ /-^ 1 » O r-, 1 > • 1 TtT. . , o -If > 

Mr Aaron Rice fauic y'^ Compla' (icct Did Wittingly & willingly 

L^'"'^?'\V."I?"''^' make and Publish a Lye of y«^ Complain' &a 

Mr Ob : V\ alker -^ ^ <^ 

& Sentence was that he pay as a fine to his 
majesty Ten Shillings &61 & pay Cost & ffees &61 as '^ y"^ Sentence 
of S'' Justice fully appears dated Dec^ 12 : 1733. & now y^ app" 
appeared and pleaded not Guilty & y^ Case being fully heard It 
was Comitted to y*^ Jury who were Sworn according to Law to 
Trye y^ Same & Return'd there Verdi6l therein upon oath vizt 
that y^ Said Thomas Newell is not Guilty Its therefore Consid- 
ered by the Court the Sentence of the S'^ Justice be reversed and 
that y^ app" be discharged paying Cost Taxed at Twenty one 
pound three Shillings & Six pence and upon his negle61:ing to pay 
y^ Same y^ Court order Execution to be awarded and that it be 
paid into y^ hands of y^ Clark of this Court to be by him paid to 
whom it is due 



Worcester ss Anno 7?' R^ Georgij Secundi nunc 
Magnce Britanice Fra?icice et Hibernice Septimo 

Att a Court of Generall Sessions of the peace be- 
gun and held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester on The Second Tuesday 
of May being the fourteenth day of Said month 
Annoq Dom 1734 — 



John Chandler Esq'' 
Joseph Wilder Esq' 
William Ward Esq' 
William Jenison Esq"" 
Daniel Taft Esq' 
John Chandler Jr Esq"" 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

I Justices of 
I the Peace 
V & 
Quorum 



Joseph Dwight Esq' 
Samuel Dudley Esq'' 
Henry Lee Esq' 
Nahum Ward Esq' 
Samuel Willard Esq' 
John Keyes Esq' 



Grandjurors that attended this Court 



M' Gershom Rice foreman M' 

Cap' Richard Moore M' 

M' Hooker Osgood ' M' 

M' James Moore M' 

M' William Richardson M' 

M' Thomas Thayer M' 

M' William Old M' 

M' David Mavnard M' 



Samuel Lillie 
William Brown 
James Newton 
Moses How 
Richard Davenport 
John Emerson 
Samuel Johnson 
Jonathan Farnsworth 



Each attended Two days & Dep' Sheriff with them 



lOO Court of General Sessions. ^tebm. 

Names of the new Grandjurors who were Sworn and the Charge 
given them & then Dismissed till the Court of Generall Sessions of 
the peace in ang"' next viz' 

M' Joshua Child foreman \ M"" Thomas Gleason Oxford 

M' Jotham Rice j Worcester 

M"^ Josiah White \ M'' Benjamin Johnson Leicester 

M"" Bazeliell Sawyer J Lancaster M'' Daniel Warren Westboro' 

M' Jonathan Bugbee Woodstock M"" Isaac Amsden Southboro' 

M'' Joseph Sumner Mendon M' William Taylor Shrewsbury 

Cap' Thomas Gilbert Brookfield M^ Eleazer Ball Rutland 

M"' Eben"' Read Uxbridge M"" Nathan Heywood Lunenburg 

M' Joseph Sibly Sutton M"" Simon Stone Harvard 



David Haynes of Sudbury In the County of Midlesex Gent be- 
ing presented by the Grandjurors for Unecessaryly Rideing on the 
Lords day y"^ 23*^ day of Septem"" last & bound to this Court to 
answer his presentment pleaded to the Insufficiency of th'e present- 
ment which was alowed of by y*^ Court & he dismissed paying Costs 



An acco" of the Grandjurors Travell and attendance from may : 
1733 To this time amounting to y*^ Sum of Seventy Eight i)ounds 
Eighteen Shillings presented for allowance which was according 
allowed of and ordered that the Clerk Certifie y*^ Same To y^ 
County Treas"" for payment 



The Court order that y*^ Treasurr be dire6led To pay The Sum 
of fourty Shillings To Isaac Moore a Constable for his attendance 
on The Grandjurors the year past viz' Ten days 



Cap" Benj" Flagg County Treas"" presented his acco"" which 
were Examined & allowed of by the Court the ballance Due to y 
County being thirteen pounds nineteen Shillings & Eight pence & 
ordered the Clerk To Sign y'= Same 



i734-i IVorcestei'- Coiuity, Massachusetts. loi 

The Court order that y^ Expenses of y*^ Comittee ah' y^ Court 
House being thirteen Shillings be paid out of y^ County Treasury 
& that v" Clerk Certifie v'^ Same. 



Ezekiel Upham Resident in Hassanamisco in y*^ County of Wor- 
cester Housewright appelant from a Sentance given against him by 
Nahum Ward Esq"" one of his majestys Justices of y^ peace for 
Said County Upon y*^ Complaint of Peter Lawrance Indian Planter 
of Hassanamisco aforesaid who Complained on his majestys behalf 
as well of his own &:6l for his Taking five or Six bushells of Indian 
Corn out of a Corn Cribb in Hassanamisco aforesaid of his the 
Said Lawrances in a thiefish maner Sometime in the Winter past 
(Sift & Sentence was that y*^ Said Upham is Guilty of Taking two 
bushells of the Corn he was Charged with in a theifish maner 
which Corn was of Twelve Shillings Value that he pay as a fine to 
y*^ King Ten Shillings & threeble damages for Said Corn to y^ Said 
Peter being thirty Six Shilling & Costs & ffees & Stand Committed 
till Sentence be performed as "^ the Sentence of the Said Justice 
Dated aprill 15"' 1734 appears and now y^ appelant appeared, to 
prosecute his appeal but an Exception being taken To the Reasons 
of appeal for that they were not properly Directed to the Court 
which Exception & y^ pleas of Each party thereon being duly Con- 
sidered The Court are of Opinion that y*^ Dire6tion of the Said 
Reasons of appeal are Improper & Insufficient To Support the 
Same, Its therefore Considered by the Court, That the Sentence 
of y^ Said Justice be Confirmed with additionall Cost viz' that the 
Said Ezekiell Upham pay as a fine to our Sovereign Lord the King 
The Sum of Ten Shillings that he pay to y*" Said Peter Lawrance 
Threeble Damages for Said Two bushells of Corn being in y*^ whole 
thirty Six Shillings the Corn if any Return'd to be part thereof & 
pay Costs & ffees in the Taxed at the Sum of Seven pounds one 
Shillings & Seven pence and upon his negle6ling to pay y^ Same 
y^ Court order Execution to be awarded for y^ Same and that it be 
paid into y^ hands of y^ Clark to be by him paid To whom the 
Same is due. 



I02 Court of General Sessions. Jtkkm, 

Oliver Wallis of Worcester bound over by way of Recognizance 
as ^ y^ Recognizance appeared his Recognizance was discharged 



Tho" Gibbs & Moses Rice who were bound for y^ appearance 
of Jos Perey moved they might be discharge & were paying Cost 
as see y"^ papers on file 



A Petition of David Parsons of Leicester in y^ County of Wor- 
cester Cler' presented to this Court in Febry last & Continued to 
this Court, now Sitting Seting forth the great Inconveniencys & 
hardships he labours under by Reason of a Highway being laid 
as he apprehends Illegally a cross his lands in Leicester praying 
Relief as "p y'= petition will appear, at which Court he was direded 
to Serve y^ Town of Leicester &61 & one John Lynds with a Copy 
of the Petition now to shew Cause why the prayer thereof Should 
not be granted & now all y^ partys appeared & after y^ Affair was 
fully debated and maturely Considered y^ petition was dismissed 
& y^ petitioner ordered to pay Cost which were done in y-" Court 



A Petition of Paul Moore of Worcester housewright Sheweing 
that he together with Cap' Jonn Hubard of Worcester entered into 
a Contra6l with a Committee appointed by this Court for building 
y^ Court House which he has performed to good acceptance and 
doing which he has reely Expended about thirty or fourty pounds 
more y" he Engaged y*^ Same for as will appear by a schedule of 
Said work anexed to his petition praying allowance therefore as to 
y^ Court shall seem meet Read & ordered that William Jenison 
John Chandler Jr. Henry [Lee] Esq" and Cap* Benjamin Flagg 
y^ Comittee for building Said house take said Petition and acco' 
into y' Consideration & make report To this Court in august next 
what they may think proper for y^ Court to do thereon and that 
y^ Petition be Refered To that time 



1 734- 1 Worcester County, jVIassachusetis. 103 

A By law of y^ Town of Brookfield RespecSling persons taking 
Cattle into Said Town &(5l presented by Col° Dwight the Same 
was accordingly approved of and is on file 



Dudley Jordan of a place called Lambstown in y^ County of 
Worcester husbandman being presented by y^ Grandjurors for 
unecessaryly rideing on y*^ Lords day being y^ 28"' day of 06lober 
last past Came into Court and put himself on the mercy of y'= 
Court and was dismissed paying Cost 



David Aldriches two Recognizances Discharged about his ab- 
senting himself from y'= Publick worship of God 



David Aldrich of Uxbridge &61 being presented to y^ Court by 
the Grand jurors pleaded Guilty whereupon y*^ Court ordered that 
he pay a fine to y^ King of fifty Shillings & Cost & fees & Stand 
Comitted till this Sentance is performed which he paid and was 
dismissed. 



Thomas adams of Worcester Husbandman and his wife Ruth 
Jessoniah Rice of Worcester Husbandman and Lydia his wife all 
came into Court & Severally acknowledged themselves Guilty of 
the Crime of fornication were fined to y'^ King Each Thirty Shillings 
which they paid with Cost & were dismissed 



The Court order that for the future y"^ Clerk do not Signe or 
grant out any Sumonses for witnesses In Criminall Cases but what 
are directed to the Sheriff or his deputy or to a Constable to Serve 
& return 



The Votes for a County Treasurer being Laid before y^ Court 
Joseph Dwight Nahum Ward & John Chandler J"" Esq' were ap- 
pointed a Comittee To Sort & number them and Report who is 



I04 CoiLrt of General Sessions. | t^rm, 

Chosen attended y' Service and Reported that Benjamin Flagg J'' 
was Chosen and y^ Oath of Ofifice was accordingly administered 
To him by y^ Clark of y'^ Court by order of & in y^ Court 



Two orders or by laws of the Town of W^orcester one Respeft- 
ing Cattle and horses y^ dther Rams were present for approbation 
& were accordingly approved 



The Sele6lmen of mendon presented to y^ Court y*^ warrant & 
warning of mary Thompson and also of Sarah Price with her Child 
all depart Said Town of mendon & are on file 



The Sele6lmen of y'^ Town of Worcester presented to y^ Court 
a warrant with y^ Constables return for warning Hanah Troy aP 
[ ] Margarett Troy to Depart their Town also a warrant 

with y^ Constables Return thereon for y^ warning David Smiley & 
Eliza Smiley depart their Town also a warrant with y'= Constables 
Return thereon for the warning an aged woman named Eliz" moore 
with her Two Sons Robert & Joseph moore and a young Child 
named Thomas Rodes all to Depart their Town praying the return 
thereof may be entered & approved which was done accordingly 
by y^ Court 



The Court now order that y'= Comittee for y*^ meeting house 
from time to time untill further order of the Court take Care To 
Keep y^ Court house in Repair that they do make Sutable ways to 
ascend y« hill on which it Stands Clear the brush near the Same & 
lay their Charges from time to time before y*^ Court for allowance 



The Seleftmen of y^ Town of Shrewsbury presented to y'^ Court 
y^ warrant & warning of John Wilson & family To depart their 
Town and is on file 



Worcester ss Aitno E} R^ Georgij Secundi nunc 
MagncB Br it antes FrancicB et Hibeiniics Octavo 

/Vtt a Court of Generall Sessions of the peace be- 
gun and held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester on The Second Tuesday 
of August being the thirteenth day of Said 
month Annoq Dom 1734 — 



Juhn ("handler Esq"" 
Joseph Wilder Esq"" 
William Ward Esq"" 
William Jenison Esq"" 
Daniel 1 "aft Esq"" 
John Chandler Esq"" 
Samuel Wright Esq 
Jossiah Willard Esq 



Captain James Wilder 
M' Seth Chapin 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

Justices of 
y= Peace 

& 
Quorum 



CORONERS. 



Joseph Dwight Esq"" 
Samuel Dudley Esq'' 
Henry Lee Esq"" 
Nahum Ward Esq"" 
Samuel Willard Esq"" 
John Keyes Esq'' . 
Edward Hartwell Esq 



M'' Joseph Wright 
M"" Gershom Rice 





GRAND JURORS 




M' Joshua Child fore 


man 


M^ 


Thomas Gleason 


M"" Josiah White 




M^ 


Benjamin Johnson 


M"" Jotham Rice 




M-- 


Daniel Warren 


M'' Bazeliell Sawyer 




M-- 


Isaac Amsden 


M"" Jonathan Bugbee 
14 




M^ 


William Taylor 



io6 Court of General Sessions. \tS^S[ 

Cap* Thomas Gilbert M' Eleazer Ball 

M'' Joseph Sumner M" Nathan Heywood 

M' Ebenezer Read N. B. M"" Simon Stone of 

M' Joseph Sibly Harvard was Sick & did not attend 

The Jury attended three days & an ofhcer vizt with them 



Peter Kendall of Lancaster In y^ County of Worcester Labourer 
being presented by the Grandjurors for y'= body of Said County for 
y' he Said Peter Kendall at Lancaster aforesaid on or about the 
midle of July i 733 did Comitt the Crime of Fornication on y^ body 
of Beriah Knight of Lancaster aforesaid Spinster which is Contrary 
to y*^ peace of our Lord y^ King his Crown and dignity & y*^ Good 
& wholesome laws of this province as ^^ y^ presentment on file ap- 
pears To which y^ Said Peter Kendall pleaded not Guilty and put 
him Self on Tryall, The Jury being Sworn according to law to 
Trye y^ Case y*^ Delinquent after a full hearing was Comitted To 
y^ jury who Return'd there verdi6l therein upon oath as follows 
viz' that y"^ Said Peter Kendall is Guilty in form aforesaid Its 
Therefore Considered by The Court That the Said Peter Kendall 
pay as a fine therefor to our Sovereign Lord y*^ King The Sum of 
fifty Shillings & pay Costs & Fees Taxed at nine pound Seventeen 
Shillings and Stand Comitted Till this Sentence be performed, at 
which time the said Peter Kendall appealed To y^ next Court of 
Assize and Generall Goal Delivery to be holden at Worcester with- 
in and for y^ County of Worcester on y^ Wednesday Imediately 
preceding the time by law appointed for holding y^ Said Court of 
Assize and Generall Goal delivery at Springfield within and for y^ 
County of Hampshire In September next and Entered into Re- 
cognizance with Two Sufficient Suretys according to law To prose- 
cute his appeal with Effe6l. 

Peter Kendall of Lancaster In y^ County of Worcester Labourer 
as principall In y^ Sum of fourty pounds & Ralph Kendall Taylor 
and Oliver Wilder Gent both of Lancaster In Said County as Sure- 
tys in Twenty pounds Each acknowledge themselves to be In- 
debted To our Sovereign Lord the King to be Leveyed on their 
Severall goods Chattells lands cV Tenaments and in want thereof 



i734-( Worcester Cotuity, Massachusetts. 107 

on their bodys for y^ use of our Said Lord y^ King his heirs or 
Successors Conditioned that y^ Said Peter Kendall prosecute his 
appeal To Effecl at y*^ Said Court of Assize & Generall Goal de- 
livery To be holden in & for Said County of Worcester and abide 
y*^ Judgment of said Court & not Depart without Leave and in the 
mean time be & Remain of y'^ Good behaviour 



Beriah Knight of Lancaster Single Woman being presented by 
the Grandjurors for her being Guilty of y'^ Crime of Fornication 
came into Court Confessed herself Guilty was find thirty Shillings 
which She paid & was Dismissed 



Jolm Brown of Watertown &61 being presented by y^ Grand 
Jurors for his Unecessaryly Rideing on y^ 28"* day of aprill last 
past being y^ Lords day came into Court & pleaded To y'^ Insuffi- 
ciency of y^ presentment for y' he has not his addition properly 
given him was Dismissed paying Cost w*"'' he paid 



Megee Dupee of Lancaster being presented by the Grandjurors 
for being Guilty of the Crime of Fornication & bound over To 
answer for y^ Same by m' Justice Wilder appeared and pleaded 
She was not bound to answer y*^ Same She not having her right 
name The Court Considered y^ Same & She was Dismissed pay- 
ing Cost w*-'^ she paid. 



Thomas Currier and John Damon being presented by y* Grand- 
jurors for Rideing Unecessaryly on y'= Lords day as '^ y^ present- 
ment appeared and pleaded they were under a necesaty of rideing 
y'^ Court order y' yy be dismissed paying Cost w"*" were paid 



William Gray Jun' & Sam" Gray both of Worcester being Sev- 
erally presented by y^ Grand Jurors for being Guilty of drunken- 



io8 Court of Geiier ill Sessions. \^tS^^^ 

ness appeared before y^ Court & Severally pleaded Guilty to their 
presentments were each find five Shillings to y*= use of y^ poor of 
y^ Town of Worcester & to pay Costs w'^'' they paid & were dis- 
missed 



Ephraim Smith of Shrewsbury & Hari" his wife both being pre- 
sented by y'^ Grandjurors for being Guilty of y^ Crime of Fornica- 
tion came into Court and Confessed them Selves Severally Guilty 
were find Each To y^ King thirty Shillings & to pay Cost which 
they paid & were dismissed 



Daniel Hill Husbandman & Nath" Emerson Cordwainer both 
of Mendon being presented by y^ Grandjurors &61 as "^ y^ pre- 
sentment appears for Rideing Unecessaryly on y^ third day of 
Febry last past &61 being y« Lords day came into Court & pleaded 
Guilty were fin'd Each thirty Shilling To the poor of y- Town of 
mendon & to pay Cost -paid 



Meriam Jones wife of Daniel Jones of Brookfield Came into 
Court & Confessed that She was Guilty of y^ Crime of Fornication 
was fin'd thirty Shillings & Dismissed paying Cost 



Nath" Bartlett of Brookfield Confest himself Guilty of y^ Crime 
of Fornication was Sentenced to pay a fine of thirty Shillings & Cost 
which he p** & was Dismissed 



The Town of Southborough being presented for not having a 
writing & reading Schoolmaster &6t by their Sele6lmen & were 
dismissed paying Cost 



1 734- 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 109 
Solomon Johnsons Petition Dismissed 



Jane Morss wife of Sam' Morss of Uxbridge &(?t being presented 
for her Unecessaryly absenting herself from y^ publick Worship of 
God as ^ y^ presentment appeared & put her Self on y^ mercy of 
y^ Court, was dismissed paying Cost 



Peter Kendall & Hepzibah his wife of Lancaster appeared in 
Court and Confessed y'"selves Guilty of fornication were find Each 
thirty Shillings & dismissed paying Cost 



The Sele6l men of y^ Town of Woodstock presented a warrant 
with their Constables Return for warning on W™ Russell & his wife 
to leave their town w*^'' was approved by y^ Court 



William Peirce of Westborough in y*^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman upon y'= Complaint of Asher Rice of S*^ Southborough to 
Nahum Ward Esq was by him bound over to this Court as '^ y* 
Recognizance and Complaint appears The affair was laid before 
the Grandjury who upon a bill prepared by y^ Kings attorney Re- 
turn'd y^ Same Ignoramus whereupon y'^' Court dismissed y^ affair 
& Each party bore his own Cost 



Eliphalett Warfield of Mendon In y'^ County of Worcester was 
bound over to this Court by Dan" Taft Esqr to answer to his pre- 
sentment by the Grandjury for Unecessaryly labouring on a public 
fast &6t as "^ y^ presentment pleaded to y^ Insufficiency of y^ Same 
and was ordered to be dismissed pay Cost Taxed at five pound & 
Ten pence w'''' he refuseing to do was '^ order of Court Comited 
to his majestys Goal there to remain till dismissed by order of law 



I lo Court of General Sessions. \^mS^, 

John Hamilton of Shrewsbury in the County of Worcester La- 
bourer appearing in Court To answer to his presentment by y" 
Grandjurors for that he the Said John Hamilton at Worcester In 
y^ County of Worcester on y"^ fourteenth day of august Instant in 
y^ night time did feloniously take and Steel out of y^ Pockett of 
Samuel Lawdy of medfield in y^ County of Suffolk Gent about 
four or five pound in bills of Creditt with Some papers being y^ 
proper Estate of y'= Said Lawdy all which is against y^ peace of 
our Said Lord y^ King his Crown and dignity and y^ good and 
wholsome Laws of this province as %] y'^ presentment on file To 
which y*^ Def" pleaded not Guilty and put himself on Tryall by a 
Jury who were Sworn to Try y^ Same y^ Deft having been fully 
heard y^ Jury went out to Consider thereof & Return'd there ver- 
di6l Therein finding y'^ Def" [Joseph Crosby not Guilty] ^ 

Its Considered by y'^ Court that y^ Defend" be Dismissed pay- 
ing Cost & ffees Taxed at five pound & Tenpence Standing Com- 
itted Till Sentence be performe'd 



Ezekiell Upham of Hassanamisco in y^ County of Worcester 
Housewright appel" from a Sentence given against him by Nahum 
Ward Esq'' one of his majestys Jus** of y^ peace for said County on 
y*^ Complaint of Peter Lawrence of Said Hassanamisco Indian 
planter for stealing Corn &6t as "^ y^ Sentence of Said Justice on 
file, (This Tryal now being by order of y^ Great & Gen" Court) 
& now y*^ Def" pleaded not Guilty & put himself on Tryall by a 
Jury who were Sworn to try y'^ Same y^ Deft ha\'ing been fully 
heard y"^ Jury went out to Consider thereof & Return'd there Ver- 
di6t therein finding y^ Def" not Guilty Its therefore Considered by 
the Court That y"^ Said Ezekiel upham be dismissed paying Cost 
& ffees Taxed at five pound 18/ & Sixpence and upon his negleft- 
ing To pay y'^ Same The Court order Execution To be granted 
therefor and y' it be paid into y^ hands of y^ Clerk of the Court To 
be paid To whom it is due 

'Words in brackets cancelled. 



I 734- 1 Worcester Coiuity, Massachusetts. iii 

John Fitz Gerald al" John Hayes aP John m'neal a Transient 
person now Resident in Worcester In said County appearing in 
Court To answer to his presentment by y" grandjurors for y' he on or 
about the 29 day of July last past at medfield in the County of 
Suffolk did then and there feloniously take Steal and Carry away 
fifty pounds in bills of Creditt and merchants notes and Six Silk 
handkerchiefs of the Valine of Ten Shillings Each being y'^ proper 
Estate and then in the possession of Samuel Lawdy of medfield 
aforesaid Gent and did also Continue the Said theft at Worcester 
in y'' Said County of Worcester by concealing the said bills of 
Creditt notes and Handkercheifs all w'^'^ is highly Criminall and 
against y"^ peace of our Said Lord the King his Crown & Dignity 
and ye Good and wholsom Laws of this province as "^ y^ pre- 
sentment To which y^ Def" pleaded not Guilty & put himself on 
Tryall by a Jury who were Sworn to Trye y-^ Same The Def" hav- 
ing been fully heard The Jury went out to Consider thereof and 
Return'd there Verdict therein finding y'^ Def" Guilty 

Its Considered by the Court that the Said John Fitz Gerall aP 
John Hays a'' John m'-'neal be whipt on y^ naked body Twenty 
Stripes That he pay the Said Samuell Lawdy threeble y= mony & 
(roods Stole viz* one hundred & fifty nine pounds The mony & 
goods found To be part thereof, and upon his negleding to pay 
y^ Same That he be bound To y^ S'' Sam" Lawdy his heirs and 
assigns At Ten pounds ^ year to pay y^ Same that he pay Cost & 
fees taxed at fourteen pounds nine Shillings & Six pence and 
Stand Comitted till Sentence be performed 

[Worcester ss august 18 : 1734 Capt Lawdy rec"* fifty one 
pound fifteen shillings & nine. pence besides paying y^ Cost 14:9:6 

att' Jn° Chandler Jr Cler] ^ 



Abraham Anderson of Harvard In y^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman appearing in Court To answer to his presentment by y« 
Grandjurors for that the Said Abraham Anderson at a place Called 



' Sentence in brackets written on the margin. 



S August 



I 1 2 Court of General Sessions. < tmm*,' 

Concord in Harvard aforesaid on or about the Twenty first day of 
May last past did feloniously Take Steal and drive away a Certain 
Cow being the Proper Estate of Hekekiah Wheeler of Concord in 
ye County of Midlesex Yeoman and in his Yard & possession then 
being which is against the peace of our Said Lord The King his 
Crown & Dignity and y'^ Good and wholsom laws of this province 
as ^ y*^ presentment on file To which y« Def pleaded not Guilty 
& put himself on Tryall by a Jury who were Sworn To Trye y*^ 
Same, The Deft being fuly heard The Jury went out To Consider 
thereof and Returned there Verdi6t thereon finding y« Deff' Guilty, 
Its Considered by the Court that the Said Abraham Anderson pay 
as a fine To our Lord y« King y'^ Sum of fifty Shillings That He 
pay To y« Said Hezekiah Wheeler Eighteen pounds be[ing] three- 
ble y^ Vallue of the Cow said Cow if return'd to be part and pay 
Cost & fees & Stand Coraitted till this Sentence be performed 



The Court order that the Committee for building the Court house 
alter the Jury Seats So as that they will Comfortable Hold the 
Jurys and that they make Sutable ways for going To y*^ Court house 
ye Charge to be laid before y= Court for their attendance 



The Court order that the Charge of y" Search after one Thomas 
Peirce who had murdered a person on Rhoad Island be paid To 
William Jenison & John Chandler J' Esq to be by y"' paid to whom 
it [is] due 



1 734- 1 Worcester Cotinty, Massachusetts. 113 



Tavern Keepers and Retailors 
Lycenced y^ year Ensuing & y' gave bond 



V Inholde 



rs 



Worcester 

Capt Haywood 
Moses Rice 
Thos Starns 
(jershoni Rice Jr J 
John IJigelow 
Lieutt Davis 



Lancaster 

Capt (Jarter 
Mr \Vm Richardson 
Mr Josiah Richardson 
Mr [onathan Houghton 

Inholders 

Colo Saml VVillard retailer 

Mendon 

Capt Wm Rawson 

Mr b'.henr Mencon 

Mr John Sadler Inholders 

Capt Lovett retailor 

Woodstock 

Capt Jona Payton 
Mr Joseph Wright 

Inholders 



Brookfield 

Mr Moses Leonard 
Mr Elea: Heywood 
Mr Solomon Keyes 

Inholders 
Leicester 

Capt Converse 

Mr Thomas Richardson 

Mr Jona Sargent | 

Mr Rowland Taylor I Inho 

Mr Wm Larkin retailor 



Hassanamisco 

Capt Leland 
Capt Willard 
James Cuttler 
Nehe : How 



\ Inholder 



Uxbridge 

Mr Ezekiel Wood 

Mr Solomon Wood 

Mr Saml Read Inholders 

Mr fno Harwood retailor 

Oxford 
Elijah Moore Inholdr 

Shrewsbury 

Mr Daniel How 

Mr John Hurts Inholders 

Nahum Ward Esqr 

Mr Jonas Keyes retailors 

W'estboro' 
Capt [no Fay Inholder 

In all 53 



Southborogh 

Mr Robert Horn 
Mr Caleb Witherbee 
Inholds 

Lunenburg 

Capt Jona Hubbard 

Inholder 
Colo Josiah Willard 
Iders retailor 

Harvard 

Mr John Atherton 
Mr Ebenr Robins 
s Inholders 

Mr Ebr Sprague 

R etailor 
Sutton 

Mr Perez Rice 

Mr Obediah Walker 

Mr Ino Hazeltine 

Inholders 
Capt Elisha Johnson 
Mr Wm Hartwell 

retailor 

New Sherborn 

Mr Eph Hill 

Inholder 

Dudley 
Mr Danl Cob urn 

Rutland 
( apt John Hubbard 



Capt Philip ( ioss approbated 
but no bond given 



'5 



(ii4) 



NOTE. 

License Law. The following ad regulating the sale of spirituous liquors 
was in force at this time : 

" An AA for the suppressing of Unlicensed Houses, and the due Regula- 
tion of such as are. or shall be Licensed. 

"Be it ordained and Enaded by the Governour, Council and Representa- 
tives convened in General Court, and by the Authority of the same. That 
no Person or Persons whatsoever (other than such as upon producing Cer- 
tificate from the Select-men of the Town where they dwell or who shall be 
otherwise thought fit by the Justices themselves, shall be licensed by the 
Justices in Quarter Sessions) may presume to he a common vidualler. Inn- 
holder, Taverner, or Seller of Wine. Beer. Ale. Cyder, or Strong Liquors by 
Retail : nor shall any presume without such License, to sell Wine or strong 
Liquors privately by a less Quantity than a Quarter Cask, and that delivered 
and carried away all at one time ; on pain of forfeiting the Sum of For/j 
Shillitigs ior every such offence, upon due Conviction thereof; one Half 
thereof to the Informer, and the other Half to the Use of the Poor of the 

Town where such offence is committed 

"Be it further enaded by the Authority aforesaid. That all Licences be 
renewed yearly, and the Bond given for the due observance of the same and 
of the Laws; and that the Person licensed shall use his License in such 
Houses as shall be therein named, and no other." 

If the offender refused or was unable to pay his fine, he was publicly 
whipped. 



Worcester ss Anno R^ R^ Georgij Secundi nunc 
Mao'iKs Britani^E Frajicics et Hibernice Octavo 



"t, 



Att a Court of Generall Sessions of the peace be- 
gun and held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester on The first Tuesday 
of November being the fifth day of Said month 
Annoq Dominij 1734 — 

JUSTICES PRESENT 

Joseph Wilder, William VV^ard & William Jenison Esq" Justices 
of the Peace & Quorum — John Chandler J' F.d\vard Hartwell 
Henry Lee,, Nahum Ward and Samuell Willard Esq" Justices 



NAMES OF CORONERS 



Capt James Wilder M'' Seth Chapin J"" W Joseph Wright 

M' Gershom Rice 



M' Joshua Childs M"" Josiah White W Baztliell Sawyer M' 
Jonathan Bugbee M"" Joseph Sumner W Eben' Read M' Joseph 
Sibley M'' Benjamin Johnson M' Daniel Warren M' Isaac Amsden 
M"" William Taylor M' Kleazer Ball M' Nathan Heywood M'' Jo- 
tham Rice Each 2 days cS: Richard Wilds attended on them 



1 1 6 Court of General Sessions. \ tT^m.'^* 

Hannah Dankin being bound over to this Court by m' Justice 
Jenison To answer to her Crime of fornication appeared in Court 
& Confessed she was Guilty, She was Sentenced to pay a fine of 
thirty ShilHngs & Cost which She did & was dismissed 



The Town of Lunenburg being presented by y^ Grandjurors for 
not having a writing & Reading Schoohnaster agreeable to law ap- 
peared & were Excused paying Costs 



John Wallis of Townsend in y*^ County of Midlesex husbandman 
being presented by the Grandjurors for his Unecessaryly Traveling 
on y^ Lords Day &6t appeared and gave his Reasons & was Ex- 
cused 



The wife of Nathaniell Bartlett of Brookfield in y^ County of 
Worcester appeared in Court & Confessed She was Guilty of the 
Crime of Fornication was find Thirty Shillings & paid Costs & was 
Dismissed 



John Dunsmore & wives Recog' Continued To Feb''y 
Nath" Davenport & wives Recognizance continued To Feb^y 
Benj" ChaQee Recognizance Continued To Feb'y 
Town Leicesters presentment continued to Feb''y 



A Petition John Harwood agent for y^ Town of Uxbridge Seting 
forth the great Burden & Difficulty y'^ Said Town labour under 
Respe6ling y° Charge of building Bridges in said Town as more 
particularly appears by y^ Petition praying for relief Read & Re- 
fered to y^ Court of Generall Sessions of y^ peace in P'eb"" next for 
further Consideration & ordered that the petitioner Serve y^ Town 
of Mendon with a Copy thereof that they Shew Cause if any they 
have why y*^ prayer thereof Respe6ling mendon Should not be 
granted 



Worcester ss A7ino R'^ R^ Georgij Secundi nunc 
Mag7i6B BritaijiicB Francice et HibernicB Oflavo 

/\t a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace be- 
gun and Held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester on the first Tuesday of 
February being the fourth day of Said Month 
annoq Dom : 1734-5 



John Chandler 
Joseph Wilder 
William Ward 
William Jenison 

1 )aniel Taft 
John Chandler Jr 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

Joseph Dwight 
Samuel Dudley 
Henry Lee 
Nahum Ward 
John Keyes 
Esq" Edward Hartvvell 



F^sq" Justices of 
)■ y^ peace & Quo' 



Esq' 



Names of Coroners Cap' James Wilder M' Joseph Wright 

M"" Seth Chapin M' Gershom Rice 



Capt Daniel Warrin 
W Josiah White 
M" Jotham Rice 
AP Bazeliell Sawyer 
Af Jonathan Bugbee 



Grandjury y' attended 

M' Eben"" Read M' William Taylor 
. M' Joseph Sibley M' Eleazer Ball 
M' Thomas Gleason 
M'' Benjamin Johnson 
M"" Isaac Amsden M' Nathan Heywood 
M"" Simon Stone 



W Wilds attended on v'" cl' thev attended Two days Each 



FEBRtTARY 



1 1 8 Court of General Sessions. ^^t?em 

Tabitha Bellows of Southborough appeared in Court and Con- 
fessed She was Guilty of the Crime of fornication by one Benony 
Salter, for which she paid a fine of thirty Shillings & was Dismissed 
paying Cost also Mary Latiney of Westborough Single Woman 
came into Court & Confessed She was Guilty of the Crime of For- 
nication with one Thomas Dooley find Thirty Shillings & dismissed 
without Costs 



Nathaniel Davenport of Woodstock & Elizabeth his wife being 
presented by the Grandjurors for the Crime of Fornication The 
Said Nathaniel appeared and Confess'd the Same & paid a fine of 
fifty Shillings & Cost & was dismissed his wife not being able To 
attend her Recognizance was continued to may 



John Dunsmore of Lancaster & Unice his wife being presented 
by the Grandjury for y^ Crime of Fornication came into Court & 
plead To y*^ Insufficiency of the presentment which was by the 
Court adjudged Insufiicient & they were Dismist paying Costs 



The Court now order that a Tax or assessment amounting unto 
the Sum of One hundred & fifty Seven pound Eight Shillings & 
nine pence be ra'sed in the Severall Towns within this County 
for defraying y^ usuall necessary Charges ariseing within y^ Same 
and that the Clerk forthwith Send out Warrants diredted To y'-' 
Selectmen or assessors of the Respective Towns within y^ County 
for assessing their Severall parts or proportion according to y^ Rules 
for assessing y^ last province Tax as y^ law dire6ts and for paying 
in y^ Same To Cap' Benjamin Flagg County Treasurer or his order 
at or before y*^ last day of may next — 



i734"5-l Worcester County, Massachusetts. 119 

The Sevemll Towns proportion thereof is as follows viz' 

Worcester Eleven pound Seven Shillings & Eight pence 1 1 7 8 
Lancaster Twenty Six pound three Shillings & four pence 26 3 4 

Mendon Eighteen pound 18 

Woodstock Sixteen pound 16 

Brookfield thirteen pound Ten Shillings & 8d '3 10 S 

Southhorouh Eight pound thirteen Shillings 8 13 

Westborough nine pound one Shilling 9 i 

Leicester Six pound nineteen Shillings & Eight pence 6198 

Shrewsbury Seven pound Seven Shillings 7 7 

Sutton Twelve pound five Shillings 12 5 

Oxford Seven pound Two Shillings 7 2 

Uxbridge Six pound & four pence 604 

Rutland three pound Eighteen Shillings 3 18 

Lunenburg three pound Eighteen Shillings 3 18 

Harvard Seven pound three Shillings & one peny 7 3 i 

«57 8 9 

the Warrants were Granted out Febry g*" 1 734 

att' Jn° Chandler J Cler' 



Ordered that The Sum of Six pounds be paid out of y= County 
Treasury To William Jenison Esqr for Inlarging y*^ Prison Yard 
laying a double floor in y^ Prison Chamber 



An acco" of M'' Sheriff Gookin amounting unto y^ Sum of Sixteen 
pound Seven Shillings Read and ordered that the Sum of fifteen 
pound nine Shillings be paid out of y*^ County Treasury To M"' 
Sheriff Gookin in full discharge thereof Nineteen Shillings Taken 
out of y*" 5*'' article 



. David Parsons of Leicester in the County of Worcester Clark 
appellan" from a Sentence given against him by William Jenison 
Esq'' one of his majestys Justices of the Peace for the Said County 



I20 Court of General Sessions. \^^^ltu^ 

DOM REX ypQj^ ^ Complaint of Benjamin Johnson of 

^^ Leicester aforesaid Yeoman on His majestys 

PARSONS behalf as well as of his own (which Complaint 

JURY ^^g originally made to John Chandler J' Esq"' 

mL^r'S'" ^"^ ''^ ''^' majestys Justices of the peace 

Mr Eb: Beman for Said County ) Egainst the appel" Seting forth 

Joseph Walker .-i • j r^ • i r 

John Moss y y*^ baid David Parsons at Leicester aforsaid 

EuZHSe on the Seventh day of Oaober last past did 

Tim:Bngham ygj.y i^-mf-]-, abusc misuse belye and Defame the 

Aaron Forbush ^ •' 

Wells Ayres Coplainant by Saying y^ Complain' was a Tat- 

Wm Haywood ^> i i , r 

Israel Keith Img man or a latler and went about from 

House to House Raising FacStions (meaning 
as the Complainant Supposes against him Said Parsons) and by 
Saying that the Complainant had Stolen Two years Sallary from 
him Said Parsons Litending thereby as y^ Complain" apprehends 
to very much abuse misuse belye & defame y^ Complain' &(St as 
■^ y^ Complaint at large appears, and was thereof Convi6ted before 
the Said William Jenison Esq"" & Sentenced to pay a fine to the 
King Ten Shillings and pay all Costs & Fees & Stand Comitted 
till Sentence be performed — and now the appellant appeared and 
to the Said Complaint Pleaded not Guilty ; The Evidences in the 
Case being Sworn and the Case fully Argued and heard on both 
Sides the Same was Comitted To the Jury who were Sworn ac- 
cording to law to Trye y*^ Same and Return'd there Verdict there- 
in upon Oath as follows viz', That the Said David Parsons Is Guilty 
according to the Complaint Its therefore Considered by the 
Court that the Said David Parsons Pay as a fine To our Sovereign 
Lord the King for and Towards the Support of the Goverm' of 
this Province and the Incident Charges thereof Ten Shillings and 
that he pay Cost & Fees Taxed at fifteen pound one Shilling, & 
Stand Comitted Till Sentence be performed, & he was accordingly 
Comitted To JVP Sheriff Gookin till the Sentence be complyed with 



A Complaint of John Overing Esq"" his majestys attorney Gen- 
eral for the province of the Massachusetts in behalf of our Said 
Lord y'^ King Seting forth that one James Orns was convi6led 



I734"5-! lVo7'cester County, Massachusetts. 121 

before the Worshipfull Justice Joseph Dwight Esq^ upon a Com- 
plaint Exhibitted at the Instance of Seth Banister & Francis his 
wife for speaking Defamatory words of y*^ Said Francis of which he 
was Convi6l then & there & ordered to pay y^ Sum of Twenty 
Shillings as a fine (from which sentence he appealed & found 
Suretys for his good behaviour) & pay Costs & fees To this Hon" 
Court butt having faild to prosecute to Effe<5l prays affirmation &(5l 
To which y^ Said Orms pleaded that there was not a Sufficient 
time from y^ Sentence given ag**' him, To the Court appealed To 
for him to file his reasons of appeal & moved The whole proceed- 
ing might be Quash'd Its Considered by the Court That there 
was not a Sutable time agreeable To law between y'^ giving of the 
Sentence & y*^ Court appeald to whereby y^ Said Orms Could sea- 
sonably file his reasons of appeal & therefore order he be dismiss'd 
paying Cost & fees Taxed at Eight pounds & Two pence and upon 
his Negle6ling to pay y"-" Same y'^ Court order Execution to be 
awarded for y" Same Ex : March i : i 734/5 



S uiuiell Morss of Uxbridge Recognizances Discharged 

Benjamin Chaffee of Woodstock Recognizances Discharged y^ 
woman & Child being Dead 



A Petition of John Harwood agent for the Town of Uxbridge 
prefered To the Court of Gen" Sessions of the Peace held In No- 
vember last Came under Consideration as also the answer of y^ 
Town of Mendon l)y their agent or attorney & y^ Same being Duly 
Considered ordered that said Petition be Dismissed 



The Select men of Worcester presented to the Court a warrant 
with a Return thereon by W"' Gray J' Constable for warning Sun- 
dry persons out of their Town also a warrant with a Return 
thereon by Joseph Rug a Constable for warning Sundry persons 
out of their Town both which were approved by the Court 
16 



1 2 2 Court of General Sessions. \ ^t'eem'*'' 

The Sele6l men of Shrewsbury presented to the Court Two war- 
rants one for Warning Josiah Pratt & his wife The other Phillip 
Gleason & his wife to depart Said Town with the Constables Re- 
turn Thereon which were accepted by the Court. 



An acco" Signed John Chandler ]"■ amounting To the Sum of 
Ten pound Eleven Shillings & Sixpence ariseing on acco" of y^ 
Charge of pursuing & Searching after Thomas Peirce who had 
murdered a person at New : port Read & ordered that the Sum 
of Ten pound Eleven Shillings & Sixpence be paid out of the Pub- 
lick Treasury of y^ County To John Chandler J"" Esq'' To be by 
him paid To whom the Same is Respectively due in full discharge 
thereof 



Mathew Barber of Shrewsbury in the County of Worcester Hus- 
bandman being Presented by the Grandjurors for the body of said 
County on their Oaths for unecessaryly Traveling on the Lords 
day in the month of 06lober last from Shrewsbury To Worcester 
in Said County and Bound over to this Court by way of Recog- 
nizance To answer To his presentment appeared in Court and 
Confessed he was Guilty of Rideing from Shrewsbury to Worcester 
The time mentioned in the presentment, but Justifyed his So doing 
because his Rideing was Only from his own House To a place of 
Publick Worship in Worcester where he found by Experience Twas 
most for his Spirituall advantage to attend The Case being duly 
Considered, The Court are of opinion that the Said Mathew Bar- 
ber is Guilty of unecessaryly Traveling as set forth in y^ present- 
ment and therefore adjudge that he pay as a fine the Sum of Thirty 
Shillings, vizt fifteen Shillings part thereof to be for the benefitt & 
Relief of y^ Poor of the Town of Shrewsbury and fifteen Shillings 
Part thereof to be for the benefitt & Relief of y^ Poor of the Town 
of Worcester, and pay Cost & Fees Taxed at one pound fifteen 
Shillings & nine pence from which Sentence The Said Mathew 
Barber appealed To the next Court of Assize and Generall Goal 
Delivery to be holden at Worcester in and for the County of Wor- 



I734"5-' Worcester County, Massachusetts. 123 

cester in September next and Entered into Recognizance pursuant 
to law to prosecute his appeal with Effe6t 

Mathew Barber of Shrewsbury In the County of Worcester hus- 
bandman principall In the Sum of Ten pounds and Robert Barber 
Clothier and Hugh Kelso husbandman both of Worcester In y^ 
County aforesaid as Suretys in five pounds Each acknowledged 
themselves bound by way of Recognizance To our Sovereign Lord 
the King his heirs or Successors To be Leveyed on their Goods 
or Chattels lands or Tenements for the use of our Said Lord the 
King Conditioned that the Said Mathew Barber shal personaly ap- 
pear at S'' Court of Assize & prosecute his appeal aforesaid apeal 
with F^fiecl & in the mean time be of the good behaviour. 



A By law of the Town of oxford Respe6ting persons takeing in 
Cattle or horses into Said Town under a penalty &61; being pre- 
sented by Captain P^benezer Learned was allowed and approved 
off and is on file 



Cap' Samuel Lawdy Representing to this Court That a Certain 
Double Silk Gown a black Silk apron & Scarf, which goods found 
with Juhn Fitz : Gerald al' John Hayes aP John m'neal. who had 
StoUen a Considerable Quantity of mony & goods from him and 
of which he was Conviclied in august last, are now in the hands of 
Daniell Gookin Esq^ Sheriff of this County and were ordered 
there to Remain till the further order of this Court, moving that 
pursuant to the Judgment of Court he may have y*^ goods afore- 
mentioned in part of Satisfaction of Said Judgment Especially 
Since the S*^ Fitz Gerald &6t Broke Goal cS: Run away. Ordered 
that Said Double Silk Gown black apron li: Scarf be delivered to 
Said Capt Samuel Lawdy or his order ami John Chandler J' Esq'' 
is desired to appoint & put under oath three Sutable persons to 
apprize Said Goods, and that Said Lawdy Receive them at Said 
apprizement in part o? Satisfaction for Said Judgment of Court 

atf John Chandler J' C le. 

May 13"': 1735 the above Goods were apprized & delivered 
To Capt Lawdy See his Rec' in Sessions affairs for may 1735 



Worcester ss A^mo Regni Regis Georgij Senmdi 
nunc Magnet Britania; Francice et Hiber7iicB 
Octavo 

Att a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace be- 
gun and held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester on The Second Tuesday 
of May being the thirteenth day of Said month 
Anno Dom: 1735 



John Chandler 
Joseph Wilder 
William Ward 
William Jenison 



1 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

John Chandler Jr 
Samuel Wright 
Joseph Dwight 
Samuel Dudley 



1 Esq" Justices of 
r y^ peace & Quo' 



Esq^ 



Henry Lee 
Nahum Ward 
John Keyes 



Coroners Capt James Wilder M"" Seth Chapin J^ 

M"" Joseph Wright M"" Gershom Rice 



Grandjurors : Names 

M' Joshua Child foreman 

M"" Josiah White M"" Eben^ Read M'' Eleazer Ball 

M' Jotham Rice M' Joseph Sibley M^ Nathan Heywood 

M"^ Bazeleel Sawyer M"" Thomas Gleason M^" Simon Stone 

M' Jonathan Bugbee M' Benjamin Warrin 

Cap' Thomas Gilbert M-^ Isaac Amsden M^ Benj" Johnson 

M' William Taylor 
Each attended Two days and M'^ Wilds attended them 



^735-! Wo7'cester Cotmty, Massac Jiusetts. 125 

New Jury were 

M' Jonathan Houghton foreman 

M' Joseph Crosby M' W" Ayres M'' James Heaton 

M' John Starnes M'' WiUiam Green M' Thomas Hapgood 

M' Isaac Thayer Cap' Daniel Taylor M' William Jones 

M' Eliphalett Carpenter M"" John Stock M' Caleb Sawyer 
W ^Villiam Ayres M' Gershom Keith Cap' John Fay 

They were Sworn & Dismissed 



Capt Benjamin Flagg County Treasurer presented his acco" 
which were Examined and allowed oi"^ the Court there being due 
to the Treasurer Twenty one Shillings and four pence and ordered 
the Clerk to Sign the Same 



Bemsley Peters of Woodstock In y'^ County of Worcester Felt- 
maker appeared Court &: also Han" his wife & Confessed they 
were Guilty of the Crime of Fornication before marriage were fin'd 
30/ Each & ordered to pay Cost which was done & they were 
Dismissed 



Elizabeth Davenport wife of Nathaniel Davenport of Woodstock 
In the County of Worcester husbandman being bound over by 
John Chandler Esqr to answer for the Crime of Fornication ap- 
peared in Court & Confessed She was Guilty, was find fifty Shill- 
ings & to pay Costs which She did cv: was Dismissed 



Joseph Baxter of Uxbridge In the County of Worcester Cord- 
wainer being bound over by way of Recognizance To answer for 
the Crime of Fornication appeared in Court and Confess'd him 
Self Guilty was find thirty Shillings w"'' he paid with the Costs & 
was Dismissed 



126 Coiud of General Sessions. Jt^:bm, 

The Seledtmen of Woodstock presented to the Court a warrant 
direfted to Joseph Childs one of their Constables to warn one 
Susanna Carter To depart there town with the Constables Return 
thereon which was approved by the Court 



William Wait of Sutton in the County of Worcester husbandman 
being presented by the Grandjurors for that on or about the 16"" 
day of January last past at Sutton aforesaid he with force & arms 
an assault on y^ body of Joseph Wait in y^ peace of our Lord the 
King did Comitt, &(5t appeared in Court & pleaded Guilty and 
have himself on the mercy of the Court & Shew'd himself very 
penitent Its therefore Considered by the Court that the Said Wil- 
liam Wait pay a fine of Ten Shillings to our Lord y^ King That he 
pay Costs & fees Taxed at Two pound Thirteen Shillings and up- 
on his negle6ling So to do The Court order Execution To be 
awarded for the Same 



A Petition of Isaac Tomlin of Westborough &61 presented to y= 
Court praying y' y^ Children & Grand Children of his mother in 
law Ruhamah Wait widow may be obliged to Contribute towards 
y= maintainance of y^ Said Widdow, Read and ordered that the 
Petitioner Serve y^ Children and Grand Children (whose proper 
ancestor is Dec*^) of the S'' Ruhamah Wait with a Copy of this 
Petition that So they Show Cause if any they have at y*-" next Court 
of Genl Sessions of the Peace to be held here on the Second Tues- 
day of august next vizt on the first Thursday of the Courts Seting 
why they Should not be assessed according to law towards the 
Support and maintainance of ye Said Ruhamah Wait 



An acco' of the Grandjurors Travell and attendance from may 
1734 To may 1736 being presented amounting unto y^ Sum of 
of Seventy Eight pounds Eight Shillings & Eight pence allowed of 
by the Court and The Treasurer is accordingly ordered To pay 
the Same 



^735-i Worcester County, Massachusetts. 127 

The vote for a- County Treas' Sent in from the Several Towns 
were opened & Sorted in the Court and it appeared that Cap' 
Benj" Flagg was Chosen Unanimously & the oath of office was 
admin'stred to him In Court by The order of the Court 



Worcester ss Anno R'^ R^ Georgij Senmdi nunc 
MagncB BritainicB Francice et Hibej-nicE Nono 

At a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace be- 
gun and Held at Worcester in and for the 
County of Worcester on the Second Tuesday of 
August being the Twelfth day of Said Month 
annoq Dom 1735 



John Chandler Esq' 
Joseph Wilder Esq' 
William Ward Esq' 
WiUiam Jenison Esq' 
Daniel Taft Esq' 
John Chandler Jr Esq' 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

Samuel Wright 
I Justices of the Joseph Uvvight 
peace cS: Quo- ^^^^^^^j ^^^^y^^^, 

Henry Lee 
Nahum Ward 
Sam' WiUard 



rum 



John Keyes 
Edward Hartwell 



Esq' 



Esq' 



Coroners Present Capt James Wilder 
M' Edward Godard Jun' 



M' Joseph Wright 
M' Gershom Rice 



Grandjury 

M' William Ayres 
M' Will : Green 
Cap' Dan' Taylor 
M' John Stockwell 

M' Gershom Keith attended three day and 
M' EHphaiett Carpenter Cap' John Fay M' Wilds attended on them 



M' Jon' Houghton 
M' Joseph Crosby 
M^ John Starnes 
M' Isaac Learned 
M' Isaac Thayer 



M' James Heaton 
M' Thomas Hapgood 
M' William Jones 
M' Caleb Sawyer 



^735-1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 129 

Benjamin Rullard of Lancaster &<5l being bound to appear at 
this Court To answer for the Crime of Fornication with Ruth his 
wife before marriage Came into Court & Confes'd y'= Same was 
fined thirty Shillings & dismissed paying Cost : his wife bond Conti^ 



The Sele6l men of mendon presented to y^ Court a warr' for 
warning Jane Pollen To depart their Town with y^ Constables Re- 
turn thereon ; accepted by y*^ Court 



A list of Tavern Keepers and Retailors Lycenced by this Court 
& y^ names of the Suretys 

Capt Daniel Heywood principall in 50/: Capt Benja Flagg 

& James Moore Gents Suretys 25/ Each 
Capt Moses Rice Ditto 50/ Capt Flag & John Harwood 

Suretys. 25/ Each 
Worcester ] Mr Thomas Starnes Do 50/ Capt Flagg & Daniel Ward 

Suretys 25/ Each 
Mr Simon Davis Do 50/ John Bigelow & Caleb Witherbee 

Southboro' Suretys Ditto 
Mr John Bigelow Ditto 50/ Simon Davis & Caleb Wither Do 

Capt Thomas Carter -\ Mr Jona Houghton of Lancaster 

Capt William Richardson (^ waS Principall for Each of them 
Mr Josiah Richardson ( in 50/ Each and Capt Jonas 
Mr Jona Houghton ) Houghton & Elias Sawyer of 

Lancaster Suretys for Each in 25/ Each 
Mr Benja: Houghton: Principall: Suretys Capt Jonas 

Houghton & Henry Lee Esqr 
Saml Willard Esqr Retailor: Edward Hartwell Esqr his 
principall Suretys Ephraim Witherbee and Fairbank Moore 



Lancaster 



Mendon 



Capt William Rawson principall Surety Jno Sadler of upton 

& Jno atherton of Harvard 
Mr Ebenr Merriam Do ) Suretys for Each other & John Sad- 
Capt Daniel Lovett Do j Retailor | ler for them both 



Woodstock \ ^^P^ Jonathan Payson | Capt Flag principall for Each in 50/ 
J Mr Joseph Wright | Henry Lee and Edward Hartwell 

Esqrs Suretys for Each in 25/ 



17 



I30 



Court of General Sessions. 



\ 



ArorsT 
Tebm, 



Brookfield 



Oxford 



Sutton 



Rutland 



Southboro' 



Leicester 



Mr Eleazer Heywood principall: 50/: Suretys Jonas Keyes 

& Israel Richardson 
■ Mr Soloman Keyes : Jonas Keyes principall Suretys Isrel 

Richardson & Elea' Hevwood 
Mr Nathll Read principall Colo Dwight & Capt Flagg 

Mr Elijah Moore : Capt Moore principall. Suretys Capt Flagg 

& Joe : Crosby 
Mr Moses Marcy principall — Suretys Capt Flagg & Jno Stacy 

New Medtield 

Mr Perez Rice Samuel Dudley Esqr : principall, 50/ Suretys 
Joseph Boyden \Vm Stockwell 

Mr Obadiah Walker, principall : Suretys Capt \Vm Rawson 
John Atherton 

Mr Joseph Boyden principall Suretys Samuel Dudley Esqr 
Wm Stockwell 

Mr William Stockwell Retailor principall Suretys Saml Dud- 
ley Esq Joseph Boyden 

Capt John Hubbard principall Suretys James Heaton 
Nathll Read 

\ Mr Robert Horn principall, Suretys Jno Harwood Epm Hill 
[- Mr Caleb Witherby principall Suretys Simon Davis John 
) Bigelow 

Mr Thomas Richardson principall Suretys Henry Lee Esqr 
Eleazer Heywood 

Capt Josiah Convers principall Mr Wm Larkin Capt Benja 
Flagg 

\ Mr Jona Sargent principall: Suretys Isaac Richardson Elea- 
zer Hevwootl 

Mr Wm Larkin Retailor : principall Suretys Capt Convers 
& Capt Flagg 



Uxbridge 



Lunenburg 



Mr Ezekiel Wood . 

Mr Solomon Wood '- Each principall & bound one for 

Mr Samuel Read -* another 

Mr John Harwood principall Suretys Robert Horn Ephraim 
Hill 

Mr Benja Force Jno Harwood principall : Suretys Mr Edmd 
Gofte als" Trowbridge of Cambridge and Mr Isaac 
Coolidge of Sherborn both in ye County of Midle^ex 

Mr Ephraim Witherbee principall: Suretys Edwd Hartwell 

Esqr Fairbanks Moore 
Mr Isaac Farnsworth 
Josiah Willard Esqr. Edwd Hartwell principall Suretys Ep : 

Witherbee Fairbanks Moore 



Grafton 



Capt James Leland . 

Capt Samuel Willard '- Each principall and bound fur each 

Mr Nehemiah How •* other 



^735-! Wo7'cester Coiuity, Massachusetts. 131 



Dudley Mr Daniel Coburn principall : Suietvs Jno Marvvourl Richard 
Wilds 

Capt Daniel How: Nahum Ward Esqr principall Suretys 

Ca]jt I''la{,'g & Jno Harwood 
Mr John Hush principall Surety Jona Sargent & Jno Harwood 
Shrewsbury [-Nahum Ward lisqr Retair: principall Suretys Capt Flagg & 

Jno Harwood 
Mr Jonas Keyes Retair : principall. Suretys Eb : Hey wood 

& Israel Richardson 

Westborough Capt John Fay Do Suretys Wni Stockwell & Samuel Dudley 
Esqr 

Upton \ "^^"^ •^'^^" Sadler \ Each principall & Each Surety for ye 
' j" Mr John Hazeltine / other : & Ebenezer Merriam for both. 

Mr John Atherton principall Surety Capt Wm Ravvson & 

John Sadler 
Harvard I ■^^' Eleazer Robins Do Suretys Capt Jonas Houghton 

Eleazer Sawyer 
Mr Ebenr .Sprague Retair : Do Suretys Jno Atherton & 

Jno Bush 

New Medfield Mr John Stacy Do Suretys Joshua Morss & Moses Marvin 

New Sherborn Mr Ephraim Hill Do Suretys John Harwood & Robert 
Horn 

Lambstown Mr Nathan Carpenter Do Surety John Frissell & David 
Wallis 

Each principall bound in fifty pound & Each Surety in Twenty five 
pounds Each 



132 Court of Genej'al Sessions. \ "teem? 

The Sele6lmen of Worcester presented to y'^ Court Sundry War- 
rants dire6led to their Constables for warning persons out of their 
Town viz' on to Constable Daniel Biglo To warn James Culver to 
depart the Town one To y^ Same Constable To warn Joshua Wheat 
& family To depart there Town one To y^ Same Constable to warn 
W'" Campbell & James Bettys To depart y« Town all which being 
done as "^ y'= Constables Return, they were approved of by y^ Court 



Robert Allen of Shrewsbury being bound over To this Court by 
way of Recognizance by W" Jenison Esq' as ^ y^ Recog' appears 
moved to be Discharged, but Sundry persons appearing and oposed 
it The Court order that he Renew his bonds with Suretys untill 
the Next Term which he Did viz' himself in Fifty pound & Sam" 
Calhoon of S'' Shrewsbury and James Furbus of Worcester as Sure- 
tys in Twenty five pounds 



Abigail Willard of Lancaster In y^ County of Worcester Single- 
woman being bound over To this Court by M' Justice Hartwell for 
the Crime of Fornication appeared and Refuseing to Tell who y*= 
father was She was Sentenced To pay a fine of fifty Shillings & Cost 
& Fees & Stand Comitttrd till Sentence be performed — which She 
paid in Court and by y^ order of Court Entered into Recognizance 
with Suretys To Save y*^ Town of Lancaster from any Charge on 
acco" of her Bastard Child viz' The Said Abigail Willard as prin- 
cipall in One hundred pound & Aaron Willard & Fairbanks moore 
both of Said Lancaster Yeomen as Suretys in fifty pound Each to 
y^ Seled men of Lancaster aforesaid, & to their Successors for that 
purposs. 



Whereas its found very Inconvenient To y<= County For y^ Court 
of Generall Sessions of the Peace and Inferiour Court of Comon 
pleas which by law are appointed to be held and Kept on the 
Second Tuesday of August yearly l)y reason its Then a very busy 
time of year and thereby Detrimentall for Jurors & Others who 



^735-\ Worcester County, Massachusetts. 133 

have business at Said Courts to give their attendance. Ordered 
That the Hon' Joseph Wilder Esqr John Chandler J' & Joseph 
Dvvight F^sqrs be desired in the name and by order of this Court 
To prefer a Petition To his Excellency The Gov'' & The Gen" 
Court as Soon as they Conveniently can To have the time for 
holding Said Court for the future to be on the third Tuesday of 
August annually, and Whereas it might be of Service To y^ County 
to have the time for holding y^ Court of Assize & Gen" Goal De- 
livery & Superior Court of Judicature which by law is now holden 
on the Wednesday Imediately preceeding the time appointed for 
holding Said Court at Springfield in and for the County of Hamp- 
shire The Said persons are desired To Consult The Hon" His 
majestys Justices of y" Said Court of assize &61 for their advice 
what other time may be more accomodable for holding the Same 
& if they then shall think it proper that they Prefer a Petition ac- 
cordingly 



A Petition of Isaac Tomlin as Entered at the Last Term, being 
duly Served on the Children & Grand-Children of y'' Widdow Ru- 
hamah Wait, and all y'' partys now appearing and fully heard there- 
upon The Court order that the Cost & Charge which the Said 
Isaac Tomlin hath hirtherto been at iii the Support of the Said 
Ruhamah Wait and his Charges & Cost in prefering his Petition 
&61 amounting unto the Sum of Twelve pound Two Shillings be 
paid as follows W" Wait & Joseph Wait of Sutton Two of y*^ Sons 
of y^ Said Widdow Each Three pound & Six pence David Joss 
Joshua Josiah Kesiah & martha newton Grandchildren of y^ Said 
Widow Each Ten Shillings & one peney & that the Remaining 
three pound <S: Sixpence be born by the Said Isaac Tomlin, & 
Nathaniel Pratt of Framingham who maryed a daughter of y^ Said 
Widdow being uncajjable to Labour and unable To pay Towards 
her Support is freed therefrom till y'^ further order of this Court 

And the Court further order that Dureing the time the Said Ru- 
hamah Wait Shall board at y*^ Said Isaac Tomlins, I'hat The Said 
William Wait Pay towards her Support Till y^ further order of this 



134 Cou7't of General Sessions. \ tmm? 

Court one Shilling & three pence '^ week the Said Joseph Wait 
pay y^ like Sum of one Shilling & three pence "^ week and that 
the Said David Joss Joshua Josiah Kesiah & martha Newton pay 
Each of them one peny half peny ^ week & that the Same be paid 
Quarterly unto the Said Isaac Tomlin and upon their Negle6t Re- 
spe6tively of making payment of the Sums aforesaid They Forfeit 
Twenty Shillings apeice '^ month agreeable to law To be Leveyed 
& Imployed as "^ y^ Law for that end is appointed 



An acco' of John Chandler J'' Esqr procureing Cushings &61 
amounting unto Seven pound one Shilling & Sixpence allowed & 
the Treasurer of the County is ordered to pay y'= Same accordingly 



William Jenison Esqr Informing this Court that the Inhabitants 
of the Town of Grafton ^ formerly Called Hassanamisco neglect & 
Refuse to pay their part or proportion of the Charge of laying out 
The County Road from Worcester To Mendon being three pound 
Six Shillings The Court Therefore order the Clerk To Send forth 
an Execution or Warrant of Distress ag'' The Sele6l men or Some 
other principall person of Said Town of Crafton for Said Sum 

Then y^ Court was adjourned to Thursday y^ 21 : Instant 9 
o'clock forenoon 

' Incorporated as a town in 1735. 



Worcester ss Anno R'^ R^' Geoi^gij Secundi nunc 
Mas'ncE Britainice FrancicB et Hibernice &n Nono 

J\t a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace held 
at Worcester by adjournment on Thursday the 
2 1®*^ day of August, Annoq Dom : 1 735 

JUSTICES PRESENT 



John Chandler John Chandler J'' Samuel Willard Esq 

Joseph Wilder \ ^ Josiah Willard | ^ 

^Villiam Ward j Nahum Ward ) 

William Jenison Henry Lee John Keyes Esqr 



The Court agreed To present the following Congratulatory ad- 
dress To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq'', Capt Gen" and 
Governour in Chief in and over His Majestys Province of y^ Mas- 
sachusetts Bay in New England now in the Town of Worcester 

May It Please your Excellency. — We his majestys Justices of 
the Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace now held In this place 
for the County of Worcester by adjournm*, humbly beg leave to 
Congratulate your Excellencys Safe arrivall in this part of your 
Government — It is with hearts full of Joy that we now See your 
Excellencys face together with the Hon" Councill in the Shire 
Town of this County which has Rec'' its being and Constitution by 
y^ favour of your Excellency under y^ Divine Conduct and Bene- 
di6lion, and by whose wise, mild and Just administration, this 
whole Province enjoys great Quietness, which we Trust will be 
Continued and accepted in all places, with all thankfulness. We 
are also Sensibly affe6led that your Excellency has Condescended 



Attgust 



136 Court of General Sessions. ^ Sm 

and is now pursuing a very necessary (altho a very Difficult and 
Tedious) Journey to visitt the Western Frontiers & meet with the 
Cagnawaga Indians and Such Tribes as may be desireous to renew 
their friendships with this Government in order to preserve and 
perpetuate the happy Peace Subsisting with them — may your Ex- 
cellency and the Honourable Gent of the Councill and Such of 
the Hon" House of Representatives who attend you. be encom- 
passed with the Divine favour as with a shield and in due time 
return'd in Safty to your Respe6live Habitations 

Worcester August 21 : 1735 which was Read To his Ex- 
cellency by the Honbl John Chandler Esqr first Justice of the 
peace in the County, To which his Excellency was pleas'd to Re- 
turn the following answer 

Gent I thank you very Kindly for y*^ welcome you give me with 
y^ Honll Gent of his majestys Councill and the Gent of y*^ House 
of Representatives into this part of his majestys province ; I take 
this opportunity of assureing you that I shall always Cheerfully 
Joyn my power with yours that Justice and Judgment may flourish 
in the County of Worcester which will greatly Contribute to the 
Happiness and welfare of the People 

after which the Justices of Said Court Return'd to y*^ Court house 
and the Court was adjourned without day 



NOTE. 



Jonathan Belcher was governor of Massachusetts from 1730 to 1741. He 
was born in Cambridge in 1682. and graduated at Harvard College in 1699. 
While on a visit to Europe he formed an acquaintance with the Princess 
Sophia and her son, afterwards George I.; and to this circumstance he was 
indebted for his future honors. His administration in Massachusetts was 
creditable; and he maintained his popularity until his removal, which was 
accomplished through the intrigues of certain parties whose schemes he had 
opposed. Appointed governor of New Jersey in 1747. he died in office ten 
years later. 

Governor Belcher visited Worcester again in 1740. in company with White- 
field, the celebrated preacher. 



Worcester ss Anno R'^ R^ Georgij Secundi nunc 
MagncE Britaini(B Francics et Hiberni(B Notio^^ 

At a Court of General! Sessions of the Peace be- 
gun and held at Worcester in and for the 
County of Worcester on the first Tuesday of 
November being the fourth day of Said Month 
anno : Dom : 1735 

JUSTICES PRESENT 

John Chandler Esqr >, John Chandler J' Esqr 

Joseph Wilder Esqr Justices of ^ahum Ward Esqr 
William Ward Esqr ^ Quorum Samuel Willard Esqr 

William Jenison Esqr J John Keyes Esqr 

Justices of the Peace 



Grandjury 

M"" Jonathan Houghton foreman 

M-" Joseph Crosby M"" W" Green Cap' Dan' Taylor 

M' John Haines M'' John Stockwell M"" William Jones 

M'' Isaac Learned M'' Gershom Keith M'' Caleb Sawyer 

M"" Eliphalett Carpenter Cap' John Fay M"" James Heaton 

M'' Thomas Hapgood 
Each att'' three days & M' Wilds attend y"" 



David Young of Worcester within y^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman being presented by y^ Grandjurors for y^ County afores** 



18 



1 3 8 Court of General Sessions. ^7™^'' 

YOUNG D Iqj. i^jg Unecessaryly Travelling at Rutland and 

JURY Worcester in y^ County aforesaid on the last 

Mr Thos: Pratt Lords Day before the presentment, as "^ y^ 

Will: NicoUs •' ^ > \j J 

Epm: Wilder jr presentment appears was bound by way of 

Maturin Allanl _ . , , ,\ r^ ^ c r^ 

Simeon Mayiiard Kccognizance 1 o appear at the Lourt oi uen- 

joiin Gibbs gj.^]j Sessions of the Peace held on the Second 

Caleb Barton 

Jon Hobs Tuesday of August last past, at which Court 

Jno Sanderson r-i • i t-> • t^ ■ i i • /-• 

Simon Davis baid Recognizancc was Contmued to this Court 

Timo^crrur ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^hc Said David Young appeared and 

pleaded not Guilty upon which plea y^ Case 
after a full hearing was Comitted to the Jury who were Sworn ac- 
cording To Law to Try y*^ Same and Returned their Verdi6l there- 
in upon Oath as follows viz' that the Said David Young is Guilty, 
Its therefore Considered by the Court That the Said David Young 
Pay as a fine to the Sele6lmen or overseers of the Town of Rut- 
land for y'^ Use of the Poor of the Said Town thirty Shillings, that 
he pay Costs & Fees, Taxed at Six pound four Shilling and Stand 
Comitted till Sentence is performed which he Refuseing to pay 
was Comitted according 



The Seledlmen of Worcester presented a warrant directed to one 
of their Constables To warn John Partrick his wife and family to 
depart their Town and it being duly served, its accordingly ap- 
proved of by y^ Court 



The Court now order that a Tax or assessment amounting unto 
the Sum of one hundred and fifty Seven pound Eight Shillings & 
nine pence be raised on the Severall Towns within this County foi- 
defraying the usuall necessary Charges ariseing within the Same and 
that the Clark forthwith Send out Warrants direded to the Sele6l- 
men or assessors of the Respe6live Towns within y^ County for 
assessing their Severall Parts & proportions according to the Rules 
for assessing the last province Tax and for paying in y^ Same to 
Cap' Benjamin Flagg County Treasurer or To his Successors at or 
before the last day of may next. 



1 735- 1 Worcester Coufity, Massachusetts. 139 

The Severall Towns Proportion thereof is as follows viz' 

Worcester Eleven pound Seven Shillings & Eight pence 1 1 78 

Lancaster Twenty Six pound three Shillings & four pence 26 3 4 

Mendon fifteen pound fourteen Shillings 15 14 

Woodstock Sixteen pound 16 

Brookfield Thirteen pound Ten Shillings & Eight pence 13 10 8 

Southboro' Eight pound thirteen Shillings 8 13 

Westborough Nine pound one Shilling 9 i 

Leicester Six pound nineteen Shillings & Eight pence 6 19 8 

Shrewsbury Seven pound Seven Shilling 7 7 

Sutton Eleven pound five Shilling 1 1 5 

Oxford Seven pound Two Shillings 7 2 

Uxbridge Six pound & four pence 604 

Rutland three pound Eighteen Shillings 3 18 

Lunenburg three pound Eighteen Shillings 3 18 

Harvard Seven pound three Shillings & one peny 7 3 I 

Upton Three pound Six Shillings 3 60 



Sum Total 157 89 

Warrants were Issued out Nov': ii"" 1735 

att' Jn". Chandler J"" CI 



An acco' of Daniel Gookin Esqr Sheriff of y^ County amounting 
unto Seventeen pound thirteen Shillings & four pence Read and 
ordered That the Sum of Seventeen pound thirteen Shillings & four 
pence be paid out of the County Treasury in full discharge there- 
of to the Said W Sheriff Gookin in full Discharge thereof 



An acco" of John Chandler J"" Esq amounting unto Seven pound 
Sixteen Shillings Read and allowed and order'd that the Said 
Sum of Seven pound Sixteen Shillings be paid out of the County 
Treasury to the Said accomptant in full discharge thereof. — This 
aco' is withdrawn after it pas'd 



Betty Houghton being bound by way of Recognizance To ap- 
pear at this Court To answer To the Crime of fornication, Did not 



1 40 Cow't of General ^>essio?is. I term, 

appear but forfieted her bond which was Ten pound which was 
paid in Court 



AUexander M'Clure's Recognizance Discharged paying Cost of 
Court w'^'' was p*^ 

John M'Jerald's Recognizance Discharged pay Cost, p** 

Robert Hunters Sam" Dunkins & Robert Aliens Recognizance 
discharged 

Mary Barbers recognizance at her husbands request Continued 
to February she not being well 



Nathaniel Sawyer of Lancaster In the County of Worcester hus- 
bandman and Mary his wife being bound by way of Recognizance 
to appear at this Court to answer to the Crime of Fornication ap- 
peared & Confess'd the same were fin'd Each thirty Shilling & Costs 
vv''" they paid & were dismissed 



Simon Stone of Shrewsbury Husbandman & Easter his wife and 
his Son Daniel Stone al being presented by y<= Grand Jury for 
Unecessaryly absenting themselves from the Publick Worship of 
God &6t appeared & gave their Reasons and were Excused paying 
Costs which were paid 



Experience Bartlett of Brookfield Spinster being bound to ap- 
pear at this Court To answer for the Crime of Fornication appear- 
ed & Confessed the fa6l but not being delivered Her bonds were 
Continued To the next Term 



Joseph Doolitde of Kingstown in the County of Hampshire now 
Resident in Brookfield in y^ County of Worcester husbandman 



1 735- 1 Worcester Cotmty, Massachusetts. 141 

being bound by way of Recognizance To appear at this Court To 
answer To a Complaint made ag'' him by Experience Bartlett of 
of Said Brookfield Spinster for his begitting her with Child by for- 
nication and she not bein yet delivered The Court order That he 
Renew his Bonds Namely him Self in the Sum of one hundred 
pound «& Two Suretys in fifty pound Each for his appearing at the 
next Term and abideing y^ Order of Court & not to depart with- 
out lycence. 



Thomas Mackintire of Rutland In the County of Worcester hus- 
bandman being presented by y^ Grandjurors for Said County for 
y' on y'= 25"' day of Augs' 1734 being Sabath day he did wilfully 
and unecessaryly presume to Travel! from Rutland aforesaid To 
Worcester in y'^ County of Worcester aforesaid being the Space of 
Twelve miles as '^ the presentment appears The said Thomas 
M^Kintire was brot before y^ Court and Confess'd he Did Travell 
as Set forth in y« presentment but Said it was not Unecessary 
Travell ; and being fully heard thereon The Court Judge the Said 
Thomas M^'Kintire is Guilty of Unecessary Travell as set forth in 
y«= presentm' : and therefore Sentence y^ Said Thomas M'^Kintire 
to pay a fine of thirty Shillings to the Sele6lmen or overseers of y« 
Poor of the Town of Worces for the use of y= Poor of Said Town 
That he pay Cost & fees Taxed at four pound Eleven Shillings & 
Stand Comitted Till Sentence is performed.— and he Refuseing to 
pay the Same was Comitted accordingly 

Nov'. 12 : 1735 he paid y^ fine & Costs & was accordingly Dis- 
charged 



John Slarah of Rutland in the County of Worcester husbandman 
being presented by the Grandjurors ibr said County for that on y^ 
25"" day of August 1734 being Sabath day he did wilfully and un- 
necessaryly presume to Travell from Rutland aforesaid to Worces- 
ter In y^ County of Worcester afores'^ being the Space of Twelve 
miles &(5l as "^ y^ presentment appears The Said John Slarrah 
was brought before the Court and Confess'd he did Travell as set 



NOVKMHEB 



142 Court of General Sessions. V-xil'^ 

forth In the presentment but said it was not unecessary Travell and 
fully heard thereon The Court Judge the said John Slarrah is Guilty 
of unecessary Travell as set forth In y<^ present and therefore order 
that the said John Slarrah pay a fine of thirty Shillings to the Se- 
le6lmen or overseers of the poor of the Town of Worcester for the 
use of the Poor of Said Town that he pay Cost & fees Taxed at 
four pound Sixteen Shillings and Stand Comitted till Sentence is 
performed and he refuseing to pay y"^ Same was Comitted accord- 
ingly 

Nov'' 12 1735 he paid y*^ fine & Costs & was Discharged 



Andrew M^Clain of Rutland In y*-' County of Worcester hus- 
bandman being present by the Grand Jurors for said County for 
that on the 25"" day of august 1735 being Sabath day he did wil- 
fully and Unecessaryly Travell from Rutland aforesaid To Worces- 
ter In y*^ County of Worcester aforesaid being the Space of Twelve 
miles &61 as ^ y^ presentment appears The said Andre^v M'Clain 
came into Court and Confess'd he did Travell as set forth in the 
presentment but said it was not Unecessary Travell and being fully 
heard thereon The Court Judge The Said Andrew M''Clain is (iuilty 
of Unecessary Travell as Set forth in the presentm' and therefore 
Sentence the Said Andrew M''Clain [to] pay a fine of thirty Shill- 
ings To the Sele6lmen or overseers of y*^ Poor of y^ Town of Wor- 
cester for y'^ Use of Said Poor that he pay Cost & Fees Taxed at 
Three pound Eleven Shillings and Stand Comitted till Sentence is 
performed, and he Refusing to pay y*^ Same was accordingly Com- 
itted, Nov''. 12 : 1735 ^'"^ P'^ y*^ Same & was discharged 



Thomas Ward of Westborough In y*^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman being bound by way of Recognizance with Suretys To 
appear at this Court To answer To his presentment by the Grand 
Jurors for his willfully & Unnecessaryly negle6ting to attend the 
Pubhck worship of God on Lords days for more than one month 
last past before y^ presentment as ^ y'^ presentment appears, 
appeared in Court and pleaded not Guilty, The Case after a full 



1735- ! Worcester County, Afassac/msctts. 143 

D Kis. T. WARD hearing was Comitted to y^ Jury who were 

JURY Sworn according to law to Trye y^ Same & Re- 

"i"''"- ''"" turn'd there Verdi6l therein upon foath] as 

Mr Will Nieolls ' '- _ "^ . 

Kpm Wilder jr follows viz' that the Said Thomas Ward is Guilty 

simeonViu/iIara Its therefore Considered by y^ Court That the 

Caleb Barton g^j^^j Thomas Ward pay a fine of Twenty Shill- 

jiio (;ii)i)9 ^ •' ^ 

jona Hobs ings To thc Selectmen or overseers of y^ Poor 

simonDavir" of y® Town of Westborough for y^ use of the 

'^''" '^""'■" poor of said Town That he pay Costs & Fees 

Tim: Carter ^ ^ ■' 

Taxed at Two pound Two Shillings «& four 
pence and Stand Comitted Till Sentence be performed, From 
which Sentence y*^ Said Thomas Ward appealed To the next Court 
of assize and Generall Goal Delivery to be holden at Worcester 
within and for the County of Worcester In September next and 
Entered into Recognizance with Suretys according To law for 
prosecuting his appeal with Effe6l &61 viz' Thomas Ward of West- 
borough Husbandman Benjamin Flagg y of \Vorcester Gent & 
John Harwood of Uxbridge Joyner all in the County of Worcester 
appeared before y^ Court and acknowledged themselves bound by 
way of Recognizance viz' The Said Thomas Ward as principall in 
Twenty pound and the Said Benjamin Flagg J"" & John Harwood 
as Suretys in Ten pound Each To our Sovereign Lord the King 
his heirs or Successors to be Leveyed on their Goods or Chattells 
lands or Tenaments for y« Use of our Said Lord y^ King &c Con- 
ditioned That if the Said Thomas Ward Shall personally appear at 
Said Court of assize and Gen'^ Goal Delivery and Shall prosecute 
Said appeal with Effe6l and Shall do and perform what Shall by 
Said Court be Lijoyn'd him & not depart without Lycence & in 
the mean time be of the good behaviour then said Recognizance 
To be void Else To abide in full force and Virtue — Sep' 6. 1736 
M'' Tho : Ward paid the fine & Cost att^ Jn° Chandler J' CI 



Thomas Ward of Westborough In y^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman being bound by way of Recognizance with Suretys to ap- 
pear at this Court To answer to his presentment by the Grand 
Jurors in nov'' i 734 for his wilfully & Unnecessaryly negle6ling to 



144 Court of General Sessions. l%Yk"r^ 

DOM^ REX attend the Publick Worship of God on Lords 

TH WARD jj^yg f-Qj. i-j-iQre than one month last past before 

Same Jury as: 1st: case ye presentment as "^ y« Same appears appeared 
in Court and pleaded not Guilty, The Case 
after a full hearing was Comitted to the Jury who were Sworn ac- 
cording to law to Trye y= Same and Returned there Vertii6l there 
in upon [oath] as follows viz' That the said Thomas Ward is Guilty 
Its therefore Considered by the Court That the Said Thomas Ward 
pay a fine of Twenty Shillings to the Sele6lmen or overseers of y^ 
Poor of the Town of Westborough for the use of the Poor of Said 
Town that he pay Cost & Fees Taxed at Two pound Two Shillings 
& four pence and Stand Comitted Till Sentence be performed 

From which Sentence The said Tho^ Ward 
appealed To the next Court of assize and Generall Goal Deliv- 
ery to be holden at Worcester in and for the County of Worcester 
in September next and entered into Recognizance with Suretys ac- 
cording to law for prosecuting his appeal with Effect &dl as follows 
viz' The said Thomas Ward as principall In the Sum of Twenty 
pound and Benjamin Flagg J'' of Worcester Gent and John Har- 
wood of Uxbridge Joyner both in the County of Worcester as 
Suretys in Ten pounds Each personally appearing before the Court 
and acknowledged themselves bound by way of Recognizance In 
y^ aforesaid Sums Respe6lively to our Sovereign Lord the King 
his heirs or Successors To be Leveyed upon their Goods or Chat- 
tells lands or Tenemt' for the Use of our Said Lord y^ King &61 
Conditioned that If the Said Thomas Ward Shall personally appear 
at Said Court of Assize and Generall Goal Delivery and Shall pros- 
ecute Said appeal with Effe6l and Shall doe and perform what by 
Said Court Shall be Injoyned him and not Depart without Lycence 
and in the mean time be of y^ Good behaviour Then said Recog- 
nizance to be void Else to abide In full force & virtue 

Sepr 6. 1 736 M' Tho Ward paid y^ fine & Cost 

att' Jn" Chandler J' CI 



Worcester ss Aii7w R^ R^ Gco^^gij Secundi nunc 
Magnce Britainice Francice et Hibernice Nono"^ 

At a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace be- 
gun and Held at Worcester in and for the 
County of Worcester on the first Tuesday of 
Febry being the third day of Said Month anno 
Dom 1735-6 

JUSTICES PRESENT 

John Chandler a Sam" Wright Esq"- 

Joseph Wilder Esqrs Justices, Samuel Dudley Esq-" 

William Ward ,' ^^^ the Peace j^enry Lee Esq^ ) J"^f J^J 

^: Quorum ^.^ , -..r j 7- r V o* ^he 

William Jenison > Nahum Ward Esq' f peace 

Samuel Ward Esq' ^ 
Daniel Taft | p y ^ Reyes Esq' 

John Chandler J' j ^^^ ' ^ -' ^ ^ 



Grand Jury 

M' Jon*^ Houghton foreman 

M"" Joseph Crosby M' W" Green M' Caleb Sawyer 

M' John Starnes M' Dan' Taylor M' Isaac Thayer 

M' Isaac Learned M' John Stockwell M' William Ayres 

M' Eliphalett Carpenter M' Gershom Keith M' James Heaton 

M' Thomas Hapgood Cap* John Fay M' William Jones 

M' Richard Wilds Dep' Sheriff attended them 

19 



Febeitaey 



1 46 Court of Ge7ieral Sessions: \ t?rm! 

Stephen Chapman of Woodstock &61 bound over to this Court 
for Breach of Peace appeared acknowledged The fadl was find five 
ShilHngs & to Pay Costs which he did and was Dismissed 



The Selectmen of Worcester presented a Warrant diredled to 
one of their Constables To warn one Thomas Green his wife & 
family 1 o depart their Town and it being duly Serv'd its approved 



Isaac CoUer Oliver Coller & Lydia Coller all of them being pre- 
sented for not attending on y^ Publick Worship of God &6t; all of 
them appeared and pleaded their poverty & not living within any 
Town, and promising as soon as they could to Reform were dis- 
miss'd 



Thomas Ward of Westborough &61: being presented for his un 
ecessaryly Traveling on y^ Lords [day] &61 appeared & made hi 
Excuse & was dismissed paying Costs 



Joseph Sanouse an Indian being presented for Unecessaryly 
Traveling on y^ Lords day &61 appeared & made his Excuse & 
was dismiss'd paying Cost 



Mathew Barber of Shrewsbury being presented for Unecessaryly 
Traveling on the Lords day &61 appeared & made his Excuse & 
was dism'^ paying Cost 



Mary Barber wife of Mathew Barber being presented for L^nec- 
essaryly Traveling on the Lords [day] Sep^ 14 : 1735 appeared & 
made her Excuse & was Dismissed paying Cost 



1 73 5 "6- ( Worcester County, Massachusetts. 147 

Robert M'^Cain of Rutland being presented for Unecessaryly 
Travelling on y^ 25"' of Aug : 1734 appeared and made his Excuse 
and was dismis*^ paying Cost 



The Town of Brookfield being presented for want of a Bridge 
over Marks River &c appeared and assured the Court they would 
speedily build y'^ Same were dism'' paying Cost 



The Court now order that for the future Wednesday y^ Second 
day of the Courts Siting being at the Severall Courts hereafter held 
in November and Feb''y be Sessions days and thursday the third 
day of the Courts Siting at the Severall Courts hereafter held in 
mav & august be Sessions days. 



The Court order that a well be dug on the Prison ground or as 
near the Same as may be at the Charge of the County & William 
Jenison John Chandler J"" & Henry Lee Esq" & M"' Sheriff Gookin 
are desired to fix y^ place for y^ Same & See it dug & well Stone 
on as Easy Terms as may be 



This Court order that a Cart Bridge be Ere6ted and built at the 
Charge of the County over a River Called French River between 
Worcester (^ Oxford at or near the place where y*^ present Road 
Crosses Said River it being not in any Town & there being great 
need of a Bridge there and to be from time to time Repaired at 
the Charge of the County till the Court Shall order otherwise & 
Cap' Benjamin Flagg and M"" Gershom Rice Jun'' are appointed a 
Comittee To Se y^ Same Effe6led and then to lay their acco' be- 
fore y*^ Court for their approbation & allowance 



Joseph Doolittle and Experience Bartlett being bound over to 
this Court by M' Jno Dwite To appear at the last Term as appears 



FEIiKUARY 



148 Court of General Sessions. \ term,' 

by their Respedlive Recognizances were then again Bound to ap- 
pear this Court & now they appeared and Confess'd they were 
Guilty of y'= Crime of fornication were find Each thirty Shillings & 
Cost and were dism*^ 



John Rich Jun"' of Dudley &61 being bound To appear at this 
Court by the Hon^ John Chandler Esqr To answer to a Charge 
Exhibitted against him &61 as ^ y^ Recognizance appears Came 
into Court & promising Reformation of what was amiss in him 
was dismiss 'd. 



The Sele6lmen of Grafton presenting a warrant dire6led by them 
to the Constable of Grafton To warn John Ward his wife & family 
& nath" Whitemore his wife & family to depart there Town &6t it 
was ordered to be put on file 



DOM REX David Parsons of Leicester in y*= County of 

■^^ Worcester Clerk being presented by the Grand 

PARSONS Jurors for said County for that y^ said David 

Parsons at the meeting House in Leicester 
aforesaid on the Twentyth day of aprill last past it being the Lords 
day Did then and there make a Disturbance in the Publick wor- 
ship of God by words and a6lions &61 as '^ the presentment fully 
and at large appears, was bound by way of Recognizance with sure- 
tys to appear at the Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace held at 
Worcester the first day of November last past at which Court M"" Par- 
sons appeared and at his desire the Case was Continued to this 
Term & now y*^ Said Parsons appeared and pray'd the presentment 
might be Quas'd as "^ his pleas on file appear Which were over- 
Ruled by the Court & to the presentment or Crime alledged 
pleaded not Guilty, Upon which plea the Case after a full hearing 
was Comitted to the Jury who were Sworn according to law to 
Trye y^ Same and Return'd their Verdi6l therein upon oath vizt 
That the said David Parsons is Guilty Its therefore Considered 



1735-6-! Worcester Cotifity, Massachusetts. 149 

by the Court that the said David Parsons pay as a fine to our 
Sovereign Lord the [King] as a fine twenty five ShiUings That he 
pay Cost & Fees & Stand Comitted till Sentence is perform 'd, he 
paid y^ fine & Cost in Court & was dismiss'd 



William M'carry of Wrentham In y'^ County of Suffolk Husband- 
man being presented by the Grandjurors of our Lord y'^ King for 
the County of Worcester for that y^ Said William on or about the 
Twenty ninth day of December last past at a place called Boston 
in the Township of Worcester in y^ County of Worcester afores*^ 
at the House of M'' Maylems did take Steal and Carry away a 
pockett Book or mony Case wherein was one pound five Shillings 
& Sixpence in paper Bills and in bonds and notes of hand and 
accounts to y'^ Valine of Sixty or Seventy pounds and of the proper 
Goods or Estate of one John Salisbury of Bristoll in y<^ County of 
Bristol! Inholder alwhich is highly Criminall and ag'' the peace of 
our Sovereign Lord the King &iQi The Deft appeared & pleaded 
not Guilty The Case after a full hearing was Comitted to the 
Jury who were Sworn according to law to Trye y^ Same and Re- 
turn'd there Verdi6l therein upon oath as follows viz' that the Said 
William M'Carry is not Guilty Its therefore Considered by y*^ Court 
that the Said William M'"Carry be Dismiss'd paying Cost 



Worcester ss Anno Regni Regis Georgi Secundi 
nunc Magnce Britanics FrancicB et Hibernics 
Nono''^ 

/\tt a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace be- 
gun and Held at Worcester in and for the 
County of Worcester on the Second Tuesday of 
May being the iith day of Said Month anno 
Dominij 1736 



John Chandler Esq'' 
Joseph Wilder Esq"' 
William Ward Esq"" 
William Jenison Esq"' 
Jphn Chandler J"" Esqr 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

Samuel Dudley -n Esqrs 
) Justices of Henry Lee [ Justices 

\ the Peace Nahum AVard ) °* ^^^ 
\ and Quo- 
rum 



Peace 



Coroners Capt James Wilder M"" Seth Chapin J"" NP Joseph 
Wright & M"" Gershom Rice 



Old Grand Jury 

M'' Jon"^ Houghton foreman 

M"' Joseph Crosby Cap' Daniel Taylor M"" James Heaton 

M"" John Starns M"" William Green M' Thomas Hapgood 

M"" Isaac Thayer Cap' John Fay " M'' Caleb Sawyer 

M"" Eliphalett Carpenter M' Gershom Keith M' William Jones 

W William Ayres M"" Isaac Learned W John Stockwell 

M'' Richard Wilds De])' Sheriff attended on them 



1736.' Woi^cester County, MassacJi2isetts. 151 

New Grand Jury for i 736 

Sutton M"" Robert Goddard foreman 

Worcester M" Thomas Rice M'' Nath" Green Leicester 

M"" Cyprian Stevens M'' Jon" Furbush Westboro' 
Mendon M"" Nathan Tyler M' Joseph Taft Jun' Uxbridge 

Woodstock M"' Joseph Lyon Rutland M"" James Wright 
Brookfield M'' John Ayre Lunenburge M*" Benjamin 

iVr David Fay Southborough Goodrich 

M"' Symon Maynard Shrewsbury Harvard M'' John Daly 
M' Samuel Davis Oxford Grafton M"' James Whiple 

Lancaster M'' Elias Sawyer 

They were Sworn & Sent home 



David Farnsworth and Hanah his wife both of Lunenburg &6t 
came into Court and Confessd themselves Guilty of the Crime of 
fornication were find thirty Shillings Each and Cost & then dism** 



Sarah Bucknum of Sutton Singlewoman came into Court & Con- 
fess'd she had been Guilty of y'^ Crime of fornication was find 
thirty Shillings & Cost & then dismiss'd. 



James Magregore of Grafton &(5l being presented by the Grand 
jury for Uuecessary Traveling on the Lords day made his Excuse 
and was dismissd paying Costs 



The Sele6l men of Mendon presented a warrant directed to 
their Constable to warn Mary Thoits to depart their Town & being 
duly Served was approved 



An acco' of John Chandler J"" Esqr amounting unto the Sum of 
of fourteen pound Six Shillings allowed of by the Court and the 
County Treasurer is accordingly order to pay y^ Same 



152 Court of General Sessions. ^tIrm. 

Benjamin Flagg County Treasurer presented his accounts from 
may 1735 To May 1736. which were Carefully Examined by the 
Court and accordingly approved of the ballance in favour of the 
County when all y« Taxes are paid is fifty Three pounds fourteen 
Shillings & Ten pence & the Court dired the Clark to Signe y« 
Same in y^ name of y^ Court 



The Votes Sent in from the Several Towns in the County for 
the Choice of Register of Deeds were opened in & Sorted [by] 
the Court. The Number of Votes wer 522 : and it appeared that 
John Chandler J' Esqr was Eledted by 5 1 7 Votes and was accord- 
ingly Sworn to the faithfull discharge of his office by the Hon" Jo- 
seph Wilder Esqr 



The Votes Sent in from y^ Several Towns for y^ Choice of a 
County Treasurer being opened & Sorted by y^ Court it appeared 
that there were Two hundred Sixty Eight Votes and that Cap* 
Benjamin Flagg was Ele6ted by 266. votes and was according 
Sworn to y*^ faithfull discharge of his office by y*^ Clerk in & by 
order of the Court 



A By law of the Town of Lunenburg prohibiting Cattle & Horses 
from being brought into their Town &61 was presented to the 
Court and according allowed of and approved by the Court 



A Petition of Nathaniel Dike & nine others Inhabitants of Sut- 
ton Seting forth the Great Difficulty they Labour under for want 
of a Sutable Road from Sutton to Worcester the Shire Town of y"^ 
County Read & ordered that William Jenison Esq Major Jonas 
Rice and Cap' Benjamin Flagg be a Comittee to Consider of Said 
Petition as to the necessaty of a Road being laid out and to view 
and make Report as Soon as may be To this Court of what they 
may think proper to be done \x\ answer to Said Petition 



Worcester ss Aimo R'' R^ Gcorgij Sccundi nunc 
Magnce Britamics FrancicB et Hibernice Decimo 

/\tt a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace be- 
gun and Held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester on the Second Tuesday of 
August being the Tenth day of Said Month 
annoq Dominij 1736 

JUSTICES PRESENT 

John Chandler Esqrs Josiah Willard Esq"" 

Joseph Wilder -n Justices of Nahum Ward Esq-- 

William Ward C the Peace Joseph Dwight Esq' 

William Jenison ) ' ^^^^^^ Sam" Willard Esq'' 

John Chandler J"" Samuel Dudley Esq'' 

Henry Lee Esq' Edward Hartwell Esq"" John Keyes Esq'' 
Justices of the Peace 



Capt James Wilder W Seth Chapin J"" M' Joseph Wright & M"" 
Gershom Rice Coroners 



Grandjury 

M' Robert Goddard foreman 

M' David Fay 
M' Thomas Rice 
M'' Cyprian Stevens 
M' Elias Sawyer 



M' Nathan Tyler 
M' Joseph Lyon 



M"" Symon Maynard 
M'' Benj" Goodrich 
M' John Daly 
M"' James Whiple 
M"" Sam" Davis Each atf^ Three days and 
M"" James Wright M"" Isaac Farnsworth 
l)ep' Sheriff attended on them 



M' Nath" Green 
M-- Jon'' Furbush 
W Joseph Taft 



1^4 Court of General Sessions. ^Ymm? 

The Court Taking into Consideration the small Extent of the 
Prison yard, and M"" Jotham Rice the under Keeper of the Prison 
who has got a Dweling House & land adjoining thereto being will- 
ing to Subje6t it for that use The Court therefore order the Prison 
yard be Inlarged viz* on y^ Side next the County Road To Extend 
Southerly on y^ Same Course y'^ Yard now is so far as That a line 
Extending westward as said Rices fence now Stands will Include 

said Rices house & So to Extend Westward as far as Said 

Rices land goes — — and northward as far as y^ prison yard now is 



Solomon Johnson of Leicester In the County of Worcester Gent, 
being Convi6led of Drunkenness by the View of the Justices in 
Court, & it being a second Convi6lion — The Court thereupon or- 
der & Sentence him that he pay a fine of Ten Shillings to the use 
of the Poor of the Town of Worcester where the offence was (Jom- 
itted or Stand Comitted in his majestys Goal in Worcester by the 
Space of Twenty four Hours & pay Cost & Fees and Give bond 
by way of Recognizance with Suretys for the Good behaviour till 
the Court of Generall Sessions of the peace to be held here in No- 
vember next viz' The said Solomon Johnson in Ten pounds & the 
Suretys in five pound Each and to stand Comitted till Sentence is 
performed & he failing of So doing The Court ordered The Clerk 
To Issue out a mittemus accordingly which was done 



The Court now order that a Sutable Vault for Receiving the 
ordure of those who are or may be Confined in the Goal in Wor- 
cester be made as Soon as may be tS: that due Care be had in 
making the Same Strong and well plateing the hole to be Cut 
through the floor into the Same & making of it very secure and 
William Jenison and Daniell Gookin Esq"" are appointed To See 
the Same Effe6led at the Charge of the County 

The Sele61; men of Lunenburg presented a warrant dire6led to 
their Constable to warn Ebenezer Slinglee & his family to depart 
their Town and being duly Served was approved 



1 736. 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 155 

The Sele6l men of Dudley presented a warr' dire6led to their 
Constable to warn Martha Mackintire to depart their Town &61 
which was approved it being Duly Served 



The Sele6lmen of Mendon presented a Warr' dire6led to their 
Constable to warn Mary Wilson to depart their Town &61 which 
being duly Served was approved — also another To warn Benj"' 
Ramsdell <& his wife to depart their Town approved in like maner 



The Selecft men of Shrewsbury presented a warrant dire6led to 
their Constable to warn Thomas Foster to depart their Town which 
being duly Served was approved 



A By law of the Town of Mendon Respe6ling Rams was pre- 
sented for allowance & Disapproved 



Ebenezer Hows Recognizance Discharged 



John Dakin of Lancaster in y^ County of Worcester husbandman 
being presented by the Grandjurors &6t for not attinding y'^ Pub- 
lick Worship of God &61 appeared & made his Excuse & was dis- 
miss'd paying Cost 



A Vote or By law of the Town of Brookfleld Relateing To Rams 
approved of by the Court 



Jonathan Harwood of Sutton in y*^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman appeared in Court To answer To his presentment for 
not attending on y'= Publick Worship of God, and made his Excuse 
& was Dismiss'd paying Costs 



1^6 Co2irt of General Sessions. I'tS,'' 

Martha Mackintire of Dudley or Resident in Dudley Single 
woman Stood bound over To this Court by way of Recognizance 
by John Chandler Esqr To answer for the Crime of fornication 
appeared in Court & Confess'd y'' Crime was find To the King 
thirty Shilling & Cost which She paid. 



Ruth Ballard of Lancaster &61 being bound over to this Court 
In aug : 1 735 by M' Justice Wilder To answer for y'^ Crime of for- 
nication her Recognizance was Continued To this Court & She 
now appeared & Confess'd her Self Guilty was find thirty Shillings 
To v= King & Cost w<^'^ She paid 



Sam" Davenports Recognizances Discharged 



Nathan Dennis of Dudley in the County of Worcester 
husbandman being bound over To this Court by way of Recog- 
nizance, By John Chandler Esqr To answer To a Complaint made 
against him by Martha Mackintire of Said Dudley or Resident 
in Said Dudley Singlewoman for his being the father of a Bastard 
Child begotten of her body, &6t appeared in Court, but made no 
Defence, To the Charge made against [him] Whereupon the Court 
ordered that the Said Nathan Dennis Enter into Recognizance 
with Suretys To Save y^ Town of Dudley from any Charge on acco' 
of Said Bastard Child vizt y^ Said Nathan Dennis in the Sum of 
one hundred pounds & his Suretys in fifty pound Each which he 
then Did & John Rich of Dudley aforesaid & William Wait of Sut- 
ton In said County were his Suretys, and is as follows, personally 
appeared the said Nathan Dennis John Rich and \V'" Wait and 
acknowledged themselves Indebted To Jonathan Hobbs of Dudley 
aforesaid husbandman & Treasurer of Said Town of Dudley and 
to his Successors for y^ tise of Said Town of Dudley in the Re- 
spe6tive Sums following viz' the Said Nathan Dennis Principall in 
the Sum of one hundred pound and the Said John Rich and Wil- 
liam Wait Suretys in the Sum of fifty pounds Each To be Leveyed 



1736. ( Worcester Co2inty, MassacJiiisetts. 157 

upon their goods and Chattells Lands or Tenaments & for want 
thereof upon their bodys for the Use of y^ Said Jonathan Hobbs 
present Town Treasurer of Said Dudley and of his Successors in 
said office for the use of Said Town if Default be made in the per- 
formance of y*^ Conditions here under written The Condition of 
this Recognizance is such That if the said Nathan Dennis Shall & 
doo well ^: Truely save and Indemnifie said Town of Dudley from 
any Charge Legally laid upon them On acco' of Said Bastard Child 
Then the Recognizance to be void Else to abide in full force & 
Virtue Recognized before y^ Court Att' John Chandler J' Cler 



A Petition of Isaac Tomlin, of Westborough in y^ County of 
Worcester Yeoman one of the Children of Rahamah Wait late of 
Southborough Dec*^ Seting forth that some time since y^ Court 
were pleased To order how the said Ruhamah should be main- 
tain'd by her Children &6t Dureing her natural life but no pro- 
vision was made respefting her funerall Charges praying the Courts 
Direction herein Read and The Court order That the funerall 
Charges of the said Ruhamah Wait being Three pound Seven 
Shillings Together with the Cost of prefering this petition be paid 
by the Children and Grand Children of y'' Said Dec*^ in the Same 
proportion as her maintainance was ordered by this Court in Au- 
giist I 735 



A Petition of Daniel Mackintire and Sundry others Lihabitants 
of the Town of Oxford Seting forth the Great Difnculty they labour 
under for want of a Sutable and proper Roaci from their Dwellings 
to Travell in on Lords days To y'= Publick worship of God in Said 
Town as well as on other days on their own business and that al- 
tho' they have applyed To y^ Select men of oxford cant as yet ob- 
tain the same praying for Reliefe according to law which Petition 
was accompanyed with a Petition from the Sele6tmen of said Town 
of Oxford Showing to this Court That Sundry of the Lihabitants 
and proprietors of said Town have of late made application to them 
for private and Town ways which The petitioners apprehend ought 
to have Refference to Country and County highways with Respe6l 



1 5 8 Court of General Sessio7is. \ "Vi^rm? 

to Causeways & Bridges, &61 praying the Court to Interpose in y<= 
affair and that proper highways in said Town may be ascertained, 
which Petitions were Read, and the Court order That WiUiam Jen- 
ison & Henry Lee Esq" and Cap' Benjamin Flagg or any two of 
them be a Comittee to Repair to oxford and to view & Consider 
what highways are of necessity to be laid out, in said Town, and 
also what may be proper for the Court to doe with Respe6l To y^ 
Petition of Dan" mackintire and others, and make Report as soon 
as may be and the Petitions are Refered in the mean time for fur- 
ther Consideration 



Joss Wheeler Son of Benjamin Wheler of Lancaster In y^ County 
of Worcester husbandman being presented by y^ Grand Jurors of 
Said County for droping and Covering Indian Corn on the ninth 
day of May 1736 at Lancaster aforesaid which day was y*^ Sabath 
or Lords day which a6lion is Contrary to y*^ peace of our Lord y« 
King his Crown & Dignity & y^ laws of this province in y' behalf 
made <& provided cs:6t. appeared in Court and Confessd him Self 
Guilty of Labouring but said he was Ignorant that therein he had 
broke y^ laws of y^ land, and being fully heard, Its Considered by 
ys Court that the Said Joss Wheeler pay as a fine for y^ use of the 
Poor of y*^ Town of Lancaster the Sum of fifteen Shillings that he 
pay Costs & fees & Stand Comitted Till Sentence is performed. 

he paid y*^ fine & Cost in Court 



Hanah Wheeler wife of Benjamin Wheeler of Lancaster in y^ 
County of Worcester husbandman being presented by y^ Grand 
Jurors of Said County for droping or planting Indian Corn on the 
ninth day of May 1736. at Lancaster aforesaid which ninth day of 
May was y'^ Sabath or Lords day which action is Contrary to y^ 
peace of the King &61 as ^ y^ presentment appears — appeared in 
Court and Confess'd herself Guilty of Labouring but said she was 
Ignorant that therein she had broke y^ laws of y'= land and being 
fully heard, Its Considered by y^ Court that y« said Hanah Wheeler 



i736.( Worcester Cotinty, Massachtisetts. 159 

pay as a fine for y*^ use of y^ Poor of y^ Town of Lancaster the 
Sum of fifteen Shillings that she pay Cost & Fees and Stand Com- 
itted till Sentence is performed : She paid y^ fine & Cost in Court. 



Benjamin Wheeler of Lancaster In y^ County of Worcester Hus- 
bandman being presented by the Grandjurors of Said County for 
droping Corn and Covering it on y^ ninth day of May 1736 at 
Lancaster aforesaid which day was y^ Sabath or Lords day Con- 
trary to y^ peace of y*^ King &61 as '^ y'^ presentment appears, he 
appeared in Court and Confess'd himself to be Guilty of Labour- 
ing but said It was Ignorantly done & not with intent to Break y^ 
laws of y^ land, and being fully hear[d] Its Considered by y^ Court 
that the Said Benjamin Wheeler pay as a fine to y^ use of y'^ Poor 
of y^ Town of Lancaster The Sum of fifteen shillings that he pay 
Cost & fees & Stand Comitted till y^ Sentence is performed He 
paid y^ fine & Cost in Court 



Rachell Newton y= wife of Abraham Newton of Southborough 
in y*^ County of Worcester Husbandman being presented by y^ 
Grandjurors for said County at y^ Court of Generall Sessions of 
the Peace held at Worcester within and for the County of Wor- 
cester on the first Tuesday of feb''y last past for not attending y^ 
Publick Worship of God for more y" one Month preceeding the 
presentment and The Said Abraham Newton Recognizeing to his 
Majestye before William Ward Esqr one of his Majestys Justices 
of y^ peace for Said County in five pounds for the Said Rachells 
appearing at this Court and to do and Receive that which by the 
Court shall be then & there enjoyned her & not to depart without 
Lycence, The said Rachell now appeared and made her Excuse 
and being fully heard Its Considered by tl)e Court that the Said 
Rachell Newton Pay Cost Taxed at 

and then be Dismissed, but She failing of so doing, and Departing 
without the Lycence of y^ Court, and the said Abraham Newton 
failing of appearing and paying the Same altho' he was three times 
Solemnly Called upon to bring her into Court his Recognizance 



i6o 



Court of General Sessions. 



S Al'OUST 

\ Tkbm, 



was by the Court declared forfeited and the Clerk ordered to put 
the Same in Suit accordingly after which Said Abraham appeared 
and moved To have y'^ affiiir Reconsidered &61 was & further Re- 
feree! To november next 



A List of Inholders and Retailors Lycenced by this Court with 
ye Names of their Suretys Each principall Recognized in fifty 
pound and Each Surety in Twenty five pounds 

The following persons are Inholders unless Retailor is added to 
there names 



Worcester 



'Capt Danicll Ileywood Suretys Capt Moses Rice Capt 

Benja Flagg 
Capt Moses Rice Suretys Capt Benja Flagg iS: John Ilarwooil 
Mr Till) Starns Suretys Capt I'lagg \- Ilt-nry Lee Esqr 
Mr John Bigelo Suretys Isaac Farnswurth Robt Horn 
Mr John Crosby Retailor Suretys Danl Hubbard Jona 

Sargent 

'Capt Thomas Carter Suretys Samll Willard Esq Capt Wil- 
liam Richardson 
Capt William Richardson Suretys Saml Willard Esq Capt 

Tho Carter 

Lancaster \ Mr Jonathan Houghton Jr Suretys Saml Willard & Edward 

Hartw ell Esqr 
Mr Benja Houghton Suretys Eleazer Heywood & John 

Sadler 
Samuell Willard Esqr Retailor Suretys Capt Tho Carter & 

Capt William Richardson 



Mendon 



Woodstock 



(Mr Ebenr Merriam 
Capt William Rawson 
Capt Daniel Lovett 



bound for one another 



/ Capt Jonathan Payson Suretys Joseph Lyon & Eleazer 
\ Heywood 

'\ Mr Joseph Wright Suretys Capt Jona Payson & Capt 
(^ " Benja Elagg 



' Mr Eleazer Heywood Surety Daniell Gookin Esqr Capt 
Mr Solomon Keyes [Jno Hubbard 

Mr Nathaniell Read Suretys Capt James Leland Capt Jo- 
seph Willard 

Brookfield ■{ Capt Phillip Coss Capt Moses Rice principall Suretys Capt 

Flagg |no Harwood 
Mr Israel Richardson Suretys Jonathan Sargent Israeli 

Richardson 



1736.J Worcester County, Massachusetts. 161 



Shrcwshuiy 



Sutton 



Rutland 



Leicester 



C'apt Danicll How Surctys Calel) Witlierbee John Crosby 
Mr John Bush Suretys Nahum Ward Ksqr Cajit Benja Flagg 
Nahum Ward Esqr \ ,,^,,;,^,.^ Suretys Capt Benja Klagg 
Mr John Crosby ( l^etailois ^^^^ Marwood 

Suretys Peter Smith Danll Hubbard 

Mr I'ercz Rice Saml Dudley Ks(]r ])rincipnll Suretys Edwd 

Hartwell Ksip- Benja Flag 
Mr Obadiah Walker | Suretys for each other & Sandl Read 
Mr Josei)h l^oyden j for both 

Mr Fleazer Fletcher Suretys Nathll Sherman Samuel 

Wadkins 

Capt Hubbard Moses How principal!) Nehcmiah How & 
Mr M(.)scs How Retailor / Eleazer Hey wood 

Suretys for both 



I 



Southborough 



Uxbridge 



Westborough 



Harvard 



Lunenburg 



Oxford 



Mr Jonathan Sargent Suretys Fleazer Robins Ephraim 

Witlierbee 
Mr Thomas Richardson Suretys David Fay Isaac Farnsworth 
Mr James Smith Suretys Israel Richardson Jona Sargent 
Mr Wm Larkin Retailor Suretys Nahum Ward Esqr Nathan 

( 'arpcnter 

( Mr Rol)ert Horn Suretys John Crosby iS: Joseph Crosby 
'1 Mr Caleb Witherbee Suretys John Croseby & Joseph Crosby 

Mr Samuell Read Suretys Joe Boyden Obediah Walker 
Mr IC/.ekiell Wood Surety Danll Hubbard I'erez Rice 
Mr SolcHium Wood principall Samll Read Suretys Joseph 

Boyden Obedia Walker 
Mr John Ilarwood Retailor Suretys Capt Flagg & Joseph 

Dyer 

( ("apt John Fay Suretys Saml Willard and Edward Hart- 
I well Esqrs 

j [ohn Maynard Suretys Saml Willard and Edwd Hartwell 
i " Esqrs 

Barzalcel Eager Retailor Suretys Nahum Ward and Henry 

Lee Esqrs 

r Mr Eleazer Robins Suretys Jonathan Sargent Ephraim 

I Witherbee 

I Mr Eb : Sprague Suretys Benja H(nighlon James How 

Mr Ephraim Witherbee Suretys Saml Dudley Edward 

Hartwell Esqrs 
\ Mr Isaac l-'arnsworth Suretys John Biglo Robert Horn 
Ijosiah Willard Esqr Retailor Suretys Caleb Witherbee & 

Saml Dudley Es(ir 

Mr Elijah Moore Capt Moore principall Suretys Danl 

Nevvhall Joe : Crosby 

Capt Moses Marcy Capt Flagg principall Suretys Jno 

Ilarwood Joseph Dyer 



f 



21 



l62 

Dudley 

Grafton 
Upton 



New 
Sherborn 



Court of General Sessions. 



S AlIGirRT 
\ Tekm, 



I Mr Daniel Coburn Suretys Isaac Barnard Moses How 

Capt James Leland Suretys Capt Joseph Willard Nath Read 
Mr Xehemiah How Suretys Moses How Eleazer Heywood 
Capt Joe Willard Suretys James Leland Nathll Read 
Mr Nathll Sherman Suretys Isaac Barnard Ele : Fletcher 

Mr John Sadler Suretys Benja Houghton Ephraim Hill 
Mr John Hazeltine Jno Hazeltine principall Suretys Capt 

Flagg & Jos : Dyer 
Mr Saml Watkins Retailor Suretys John Sadler Ephraim 

Hill 

f Mr Ephraim Hill Suretys John Sadler Ephraim Hill 
\ Mr William Stockwell 



New Medfield | Mr John Stacy Capt Flagg principal Suretys Jno Harwood 

& Joseph Dyer 

Lambs Town | Mr Nathan Carpenter Suretys Joseph Dwight Esqr William 

Larkin 

At one of ye Narragansett Towns | Fairbank Moore Suretys Joseph Dwight 

Samll Willard Esqrs 



William Jenison Esc^r from y'^ Comittee appointed by this Court 
in May last on a Petition of Sundry persons to view and make Re- 
port of y^ necessaty of laying out a Publick Road from the Town 
of Worcester To Sutton, made Report which was accepted and the 
Court order that the Clerk Grant out a warrant Dire6led to the 
Sheriff, To Impanel! a Jury agreeable to law for y*^ laying out Said 
Road — to assemble at y'^ Dwelling House of M' Joseph Boyden 
in Sutton on Tuesday the first day of 06tober next to be duly 
Sworn for that end and that in laying out said Road they have due 
Regard to the Report of the Comittee 



Worcester ss Anno Regni Regis Georgi Secundi 
nunc Maznce Britanice FrancicE et Hibernice 
Decinio "^ 

Att a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace be- 
gun and Held at Worcester In and for the 
County of Worcester on the first Tuesday of 
November being the Second day of Said Month 
anno Dom" 1736 



John Chandler 
Joseph Wilder 
William Ward 
William Jenison 
John Chandler J^ 



JUSTICES PRESENT 

Henry Lee Esq"" 
Nahum Ward Esq'' 
John Keyes Esq'' 

Justices of the Peace 



Esqrs 
Justices of 
the Peace 
and Quo- 
rum 



Capt James Wilder M' Seth Chapin Jun"- IVP Joseph Wright 
M'' Gershom Rice Coroners 



(irandjury 

M'' Robert Goddard foreman 

M'' David Fay 
M' Thomas Rice 
M'' Cyprian Stevens 
M' Elias Sawyer 
M' Nathan Tyler 
M'' Joseph Lyon 



M"" John Ayres 
M'' Nath" Green 
TvP Joseph Taft 
W Sam" Davis 



M'' John Daly 
M'' James Whiple 

Each attended Two days 
and Richard Wild Dept 



M"" Symon Maynard Sheriff attended them 



164 Court of General Sessions. P'xERMf'' 

An acco' of Daniel Gookin Esq'' Sheriff of the County amount- 
ing To Twenty one pound four Shillings Read and allowed and 
ordered that the Sum of Twenty one pound four Shillings be paid 
out of the County Treasury to Said M' Sheriff Gookin in full dis- 
charge thereof 



James orcutt bound over to this Court by the Hon" John Chand- 
ler Esq' To answer to his presentment by y^ Grandjurors for the 
Crime of fornication appeared and was dismiss'd paying Cost 

The Court now order that a Tax or assessment amounting to 
the Sum of Two hundred pounds be Raised on the Severall Towns 
within this County for defraying the usual & necessary Charges 
ariseing within the Same and that the Clark forthwith send out 
Warrants direfted to the Sele6lmen or assessors of the Respet^tive 
Towns within the County for assessing their Severall parts & pro- 
portions according to the Rules for assessing the last Province Tax 
and for paying the Same to Capt Benjamin Flagg County Treasurer 
or to- his Successor at or before the last day of May next. 

The Severall Towns Proportion thereof is as follows viz' 

Worcester Twelve pound Eighteen Shillings & three ])ence 12 18 3 

Lancaster Twenty nine pound Six Shillings & three pence 29 6 3 

Mendon Nineteen pound Six Shillings & Ten pence 19 6 10 

Woodstock Twenty pound four Shillings 20 4 

Brookfield Sixteen pound Eight Shillings & Eight pence 1 6 8 8 

Southborough Elevin pound live Shillings & nine pence 11 59 

Leicester Nine pound Twelve Shillings & five pence 912 5 

Rutland Six pound one Shilling & five pence 615 

Lunenburg Six pound Eight Sliillings & Eight pence 6 8 8 

Westborough Eleven pound Seven Shillings & Six pence 11 76 

Shrewsbury Eleven pound four Shillings & five pence 11 4 5 

Oxford Six pound Eighteen Shillings & five pence 618 5 

Sutton thirteen pound Sixteen Shillings & Seven pence 13 16 7 

Uxbridge Nine pound Nineteen Shillings & Eleven pence 9 19 11 

Harvard Eight pound & three pence 803 

Grafton Seven pound & Eight pence 708 

Sum Total! ;^2oo o o 

Warrants were Issued out November 15"* 1736 

att* Jn" Chandler J' Clr 



1736. 1 Worcester County, Massachusetts. 165 

Upon a Motion made & Seconded The Court order that Daniel 
Gookin Esq' Sheriff of this County do at y^ Court of Generall Ses- 
sions of the Peace to be held here in Febry next Give Surety unto 
ye Kings majesty for y-' Due & faitlifull discharge and performance 
of His office in all the parts thereof with two Sufficient Suretys 
himself in one Thousand Pound lawful money and his Suretys in 
Five Hundred pound Each and dire6led that the Clerk notifye 
him of this order that So he Comply Therewith agreeable to y^ 
province Law in Page 120 

And the Justices of Said Court being apprehensive it may be of 
Dangerous Consequence for y^ Keye of the Prison to be Kept at 
any place from y^ Same desire M' Sheriff Gookin to have y'= [key] 
Kept by y^ the Resident Keeper of Said Prison that So if any ac- 
cident by fire should hapen the Prisoners might not Perish by fire 



The Court order that the Sum of fourteen pound one Shilling 
be paid out of the County Treasury To M' Gershom Rice Jun' to 
Reimburse him the mony he has advanced for Labour in building 
a bridge over a River Called french River between Worcester and 
Oxford not in y^ Bounds of any Town Twenty Shillings thereof to 
be paid To Capt Benjamin Flagg for his Trouble & Service asone 
of the Comittee The Residue To be in full for his own Service & 
mony advanced as aforesaid Said Bridge being built by order of 
Court 



Abigail Richardson Recognized for her appearance at this Court 
To answer for presentment by y*^ Grandjurors for Seling Strong 
Licjuor &6t appeared & was Dismiss'd paying Cost 



The Selea men of The Town of Shrewsbury presented a War- 
rant direded to their Constable to warn Eleazer Harthan & his 
wife to depart their Town and y*^ Same being duly Served was ap- 
proved by y^ Court 



NOVEMnEE 



1 66 Court of General Sessions. \ "tekm,' 

The Sele6l men of Worcester presented a Warr' dire6led to one of 
their Constables to warn James Hawes and Han" Hooker to de- 
part their Town w'=^ being- duly Served is approved 



Skipper Fairfield of Sutton MX Husbandman Recognized before 
M'' Justice Jenison To appear at this Court &61 appeared and was 
Discharged 



William Chapman and Ann his wife both of Woodstock appear- 
ed before Court pursuant To their Recognizance Given To the 
Hon" John Chandler Esq"" To answer for their being Guilty of y'= 
Crime of Fornication were find 30/ Each & to pay Cost w'*' They 
paid 



Nathan Ainsworth and Hulda his wife both of Woodstock Stand 
bound over To this Court by the Hon" John Chandler Esqr To 
answer To their being Guilty of the Crime of Fornication appeared 
were find Thirty Shillings Each & Cost w'^'^ they paid 

Abraham Newton of Southborough in y^ County of Worcester 
husbandman having recognized to our Sovereign Lord the King 
In y^ Sum of five pound before William Ward Esq"" one of his 
maj'^^ Justices of y'^ peace for the County aforesaid that his wife 
Rachell now should appear at the Court of Generall Sessions of 
the peace held here in August last, which was Continued over To 
this Court To answer to her presentment for not attending y^ Pub- 
lick Worship of God &(5l & y'^ Said Rachell not appearing altho' 
Solomnly Called to come into Court but made default and the Said 
Abraham Newton was Solomnly Called to Bring her into Court and 
did not appear but made default The Court therefore declare y^ 
Recognizance forfeited and that a writt of Scire facias be Taken 
out against the said Abraham Newton for y*^ Sum of five pounds 
and also for y*^ Costs and Charges occasioned by the non appear- 
ance of y^ Said Rachell Newton 



1 736. 1 Worcester Cotmty, Massachusetts. 167 

Abraham Newton of Southborough In y^ County of Worcester 
husbandman having Recognized To our Sovereign Lord the King 
In y« Sum of five pounds before William Ward F^sq'' one of his 
Majestys Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid that his 
Daughter Sybella Newton should appear at the Court of Generall 
Sessions of the peace held here in febry 1735/6 To answer to her 
presentment by y^ Grandjurors for not attending on y^ Publick 
Worship of God &6t and the Said Recognizance has been Con- 
tinued to this Court and the Said Sybella altho' Solemnly Called 
to come into Court did not appear but made Default and the Said 
Abraham Newton tho' Solemnly Called to bring the Said Rachell 
into Court did not appear but made Default also the Court then 
declare the Said Recognizance to be forfeited and that a writt of 
Scire facias be Taken out against the said Abraham Newton for 
the Sum of five pounds and also for the Cost and Charges Oc- 
casioned by y^ non appearance of y^ Said Sybella Newton 



Daniell Gookin Esq"' Sheriff made Return of the Warrant Di- 
re6led to him by order of ^ the Court of Generall Sessions of the 
Peace in August last for the laying out of a Road from Worcester 
to Sutton under his own hand and Seal as also under the hands 
and Seals of The Jury by him impanelled which was accepted of 
by this Court and the Road Laid out & described therein is by the 
Court fully Established and the Warrant & y« proceedings there- 
upon are ordered to be Recorded, and is as follows 

Worcester ss To the Sheriff of the County of Worcester or his 
Deputy Greeting Whereas y« Comittee appointed by y^ Court 

of Generall Sessions of y^ peace in may Last past have made Re- 
port Concerning a Publick Highway or Country Road between y« 
Towns of Worcester and Sutton being necessary to be Laid out as 

^ ye Report on file appears. These are therefore in his maj- 
[seal] esties Name to Require and Comand You or one of you to 

Sumon and Impanell a Jury of good and Lawful men 
Qualified according to Law to meet & assemble att y^ Dwelling 
House of M' Joseph Boyden in Sutton aforesaid Inholder on Fryday 



1 68 Court of General Sessi07is. ^'tekm,"* 

y« first Day of 06lober next which Jury So Sumoned and Impan- 
elled you are to Cause a proper oath to be administered to them 
by a Justice of y^ peace for y'^ County afores'* and then to proceed 
to view and Lay out a Publick Highway or Country Road between 
y^ Towns aforesaid Pursuant to y*^ Laws of this province & haveing 
a Due Regard to y^ Report of y*^ Late Comittee hereof fail not and 
make Due Return hereof with your Doings herein to this Court att 
their next Sessions of y^ peace to be held here on y'^ first Tuesday 
of Novem''. next as well under your own hand as y^ hands of y* 
Jury aforesaid Dated att Worcester this twenty eighth Day of Sep- 
tember in y*^ tenth Year of his majesties Reign anno Dom 1736 

By Order of Court John Chandler J"" Clerk pa' 

Worcester ss 06tober i. 1736 By virtue of y'^ within Written 
Warrant I have Impanelled a Jury of twelve good and Lawful men 
and had them Sworn as y^ Laws Direct' who met att Sutton and 
then Laid out a Country Road from Sutton to Worcester meeting 
House as '^ y^ Jurys Report herewith all adjoyned will appear 

Daniel Gookin Sh 

Worcester ss 06tober y*^ i : i 736 then y'= Jury that was ap- 
pointed by Daniel Gookin Esq"" Sheriff of said County to Lay out 
a way from Sutton to Worcester according to y*^ writtin Warrant 
personally appeared and was Sworn to a6l Imparcially and In Dif- 
ferently to Lay out Said way and in Laying of it out to have a Re- 
gard to y'^ Conveinance of y® Publick as well as to particularly 
parsons Interest and to have a Regard to y^ Courts order in Lay- 
ing y*^ Same Sworn before me William Jenison Just of peace 

Worcester ss : 06lober 2''. i 736 we whose names which have 
hereunto Subscribed being Sumoned & impannelled by Daniel 
Gookin Esq'. Sheriff of Said County for to Lay out a Country Road 
of a Sufficient Wedth from y^ town of Sutton to y*^ Town of Wor- 
cester according to y^ Dire6tion of y'^ Warrant herewith annexed 
being Sworn before W"' Jenison Esq"" one of his majesties Justices 
for y*^ County of Worcester have viewed y*^ premises and have Laid 
out Said Road as followeth (viz') begining att y"^ End of y*^ Lane 
[ ] the meeting House in Sutton & so by marked trees and 
heaps of Stones in y'^ Westerly Side of Said Road as formerly Laid 



1736.J Worcester County, MassacJnisctts. 169 

out by y^ Select men of Sutton by y'^ house of Ebe : Daggit — Sam- 
uel Lilly John Singletary John Brown Robert Goddard and y<= 
Dwelling House which James Hulnow Dwellsin and to Sutton Line 
So by marked trees on y« Westerly Side of Said Road to Worces- 
ter Line said Road to be three Rods wide through Sutton and to 
Worcester Line Excepting through y« Land of Philip Chase two 
Rod and half by marked trees to y« Said Chases Barn So to Run 
between Said Chases House and Barn by marks on y« Southerly 
Side of y^ Crick to a Small tree marked near y^ Old Bridge over 
Said Crick thence to Run on y*^ Easterly Side of a white oak tree 
marked on y*^ west Side of y^ Road to y'= River thence over y« 
River to a marked tree on y"^ west Side of Said Road and So as y^ 
Sele6l men of Worcester hath Laid out a Town Road and as y^ 
Road is now trod to y^ meeting House in Worcester Said Road 
from y^ River to Worcester meeting House to be as y*^ Sele6l men 
have Laid out formerly Said Road was Laid out through Phillip 
Chases Land by Consent of Said Chase Who freely Gave y^ Land 
for Said Road through his farm Dated at Worcester 06lober 
y^ 2**. I 736 Gershom Rice and a Seal Samuel Dudley and a Seal 
Daniel Heywood and a Seal Benj". Flagg Jun^ and a Seal John 
Stockwell and a Seal Perez Rice & a Seal Robert Goddard tSz a 
Seal John Stearnes & a Seal Thomas Stearnes and a Seal Jotham 
Rice and a Seal Jeremiah Bucknum and a Seal Daniel Ward & a 
Seal Daniel Gookin Sh & a Seal 

Entered '^ John Chandler J' Cle pac 

The account of y^ Charge of Viewing and laying out the afore- 
said Road amounting to the Sum of Seventeen pound five Shillings 
allowed of by the Court and is Due to the following Persons vizt 

£ s d 

To the Comittee for viewing &61 Each 10/ i 10 o 

To Daniell Gookin Escjr Sheriff fourty four Shillings 2 04 o 

To ye Justice for his Travell & Swearing the Jury 0120 

To the Jury Each 10/ ^f" day being on ye Service Two days 12 00 
To the Clerk for writings, Copys, Recording orders 

Xa thirty Shillings I 10 o 

17 16 o 

22 » 



1 70 Court of Genej^al Sessions. \ t'ekm,'"* 

Ordered that the Charge of viewing and laying out the County 
Road from Worcester To Sutton amounting to the Sum of Seven- 
teen pound fifteen ShilHngs be paid By the County The Town of 
Worcester and the Town of Sutton In the proportion following 
viz' The County To pay fourty four Shillings & Six pence 

2 46 
The Town of Worcester The Sum of four pound 

nine Shillings 490 

and The Town of Sutton The Sum of Eleven pound 

Two Shillings & Sixpence 11 26 

17 160 

and that the Clerk Send To the Said Towns Copys of this order 
that So they may Respectively Assess the Respeftive Sums laid on 
them and pay the Same To the County Treasurer or his Successor 
at or before the Last day of May next Which Together with the 
Sum Which the County are to pay as abovesaid he is to pay to y*^ 
persons to whom the Same is Respe6lively [due] 



Ordered that Phillip Chase His heirs or assignes have Liberty 
dureing the Pleasure of the Court to Keep Gates well hung a Cross 
the Country or County Road lately laid out a Cross his land in 
Two particular places provided he Suffer no other Incumbrance on 
the Same, & the Gates are Kept in proper order & Repair at all 
times to be opened as may be needed 



Solomon Johnson of Leicester In the County of Worcester Gent 
having on the Seventeenth day of August Last past Recognized 
before John Chandler Jun'' Esq'' one of his majestys Justices of the 
Peace for the County of Worcester To our Sovereign Lord the 
King In the Sum of Ten pounds with Suretys viz' Thomas Hop- 
kins of Leicester Mason and Simon Gleeson of Oxford Labourer 
both in y^ County of Worcester Each in y*^ Sum of five pounds 
C'onditioned for y*^ Said Solomon Johnsons appearance at this Court 



1736.J Worcester County, Massachusetts. 171 

To answer To Such matters & things as should be obje6leti against 
him on his majestys behalf & to Continue & be of y= Good be- 
haviour towards his majestye and all his Leige people &61 as ^ y^ 
Recognizance appears and the Said Solomon Johnson not appear- 
ing, altho' Solemnly Called to Come into Court, but made default 
and the Said Thomas Hopkins and Simon Gleeson The Suretys 
being also Solomnly Called to bring The Said Solomon Johnson 
into Court did not appear but made default The Court therefore 
order that the Said bond be forfeited and it was accordingly for- 
feited and ordered that a writt of Scire Facias be Issued out against 
y^ Said Thomas Hopkins and Simon Gleeson for y^ Sum of five 
pounds Each and also for y^ Costs & Charges occasioned by 
the non appearance of the Said Solomon Johnson 



Obediah MacKintire of Oxford In y"^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman being presented for [not] attending y^ Publick Worship 
of God appeared and made his Excuse and was dismiss'd paying 
Cost 



On a motion made ordered that the Clerk write to y^ Seledmen 
of Grafton a Copy of the order of this Court In May 1733. Re- 
lating to y^ mony laid on them for their part of y^ Laying out y^ 
County Road from Mendon to Worcester that So they assess their 
Town & pay y« Same to W™ Jenison Esqr 



Worcester ss Anno R^ R^ Georgij Secundi 7iunc 
Magncs Britainice Francics et Hibcrnice &fl 
Decimo "^ 

Att a Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace be- 
p-un and Held at Worcester within and for the 
County of Worcester by adjournment by order 
of y" Great and General Court from the first 
Tuesday of February 1736/7 to the third Tues- 
day of Said month being the fourteenth day of 
Said month, and then Sett. 



JUSTICES PRESENT 



John Chandler 
Joseph Wilder 
William Ward 
William Jenison 
John Chandler Jun"" 



Esqrs 
Justices of 
the Peace 
and Quo- 
rum 



Henry Lee | Esqrs Justices 
Nahum Ward \ of the Peace 



(jrandjury 

M'' Robert Goddard foreman 

M' John Ayres 
Mess" Thomas Rice 

Cyprian Stevens 

Elias Sawyer 

Nathan Tyler 

Joseph Lyon 



Mess" Symon Maynard 
M-" John Daly 
M'' James Whiple 
attended Two days Each 

M' Samuel Davis and M' Wilds waited on 

M"" James Wright them 



M' David Fay 
M' Nath" Green 
M^ Joseph Taft 



1 736-7. 1 Worcester Coimty, Massacluisctts. 173 

Joseph Dyer of Worcester In the County of Worcester Gent 
appelant from a Sentence given against him by William Jenison 
Esq' one of His majestys Justices of the Peace for the said County 
upon the Complaint of Hannah Hooker of Worcester in said County 
Spinster on his majestys behalf as well as of her own Seting forth 
that the Said Joseph Dyer at Worcester aforesaid on or about y*^ 
month of 06lober last past and since that time at Worcester afore- 
said did wittingly and willingly make or Spread a lye or false Re- 
port of y'' Complain' by saying she y'' Complain' was with Child 
when he had no Just Grounds for his So doing all which a6lion 
was with a designe to belye defame and abuse y^ Complain' &61 as 
"^ the Warrant dated the Thirty first day of December last past 
appears and before y^ Said Justice was convi6led of Spreading a 
false Report of the Said Hannah Hooker by Saying that She was 
with Child as set forth in y^ Warrant & thereupon Sentenced To 
pay a fine To the King 6e6l of Ten shillings & to pay all Cost &6t 
as ^ the Sentence of Said Justice appears, and now the appellant 
appeared and to the Said Complaint Pleaded not Guilty The 
Evidences in the Case being Sworn and the Case fully heard on 
both Sides was Committed to the Jury who were Sworn according 
to law to Trye y^ Same and Return'd their Verdi6l therein upon 
Oath as follows vizt That the Said Joseph Dyer is Guilty of 
Spreading an evil Report of Hannah Hooker Its therefore Con- 
sidered by the Court that the Said Joseph Dyer Pay as a fine to 
our Sovereign Lord the King for and toward the Support of the 
Government of this province and the Incident Charges thereof 
Ten Shillings and that he pay Cost & Fees Tax'd at Six pound 
fourteen Shillings & nine pence and upon his negle6ling to pay the 
Same The Court order Execution To be awarded therefor and that 
it be paid into the hands of the Clerk to be by him paid To whom 
the same is due Ex : march : 14'": 1736/7, & y^ fine & Costs 
paid into the Court by M' Sheriff Gookins 



Amariah Lyon late of Shrewsbury now of Poquiog ^ so Called in 



Now Athol. 



Feuriary 



1 74 Court of General Sessions. \ t'erm,' 

y<= County of Worcester Husbandman appellant from a Judgment 
given against him by Samuell Wright Esqr &a as ^ y^ Sentence 
appears, upon y^ Complaint of William Temple of Worcester &ct 
upon his majestys behalf as well as of his own The partys ap- 
peared and the Case fully Considered The Court order the whole 
proceedings to be Quash'd & Each jiarty to pay his own Cost 



Amariah Lyon late of Shrewsbury now of Poquiog So Called In 
ye County of Worcester appel" from a Judgment given against him 
by Samuell Wright Esq' upon the Comp" of William Temple of 
Worcester &61 as ^ y^ Compla' & Sentence appears The partys 
appeared and the Case being fully Considered The Court order 
The whole proceeding to be Quash'd and Each party bear his 
Costs 



Samuell Stow of Lunenburg in y" County of Worcester Gent 
being presented by the Grandjurors of Said County for not attend- 
ing the Publick Worship of God &61 appeared and made his Ex- 
cuse & was dismiss'd & he is to pay Cost Tax'd at and 
not to depart without Lycence of the Court 



The Town of Lunenburg being presented by y" Grandjurors &61 
for not being provided with a Schoolmaster agreeable to law &61 
appeared by their Sele6lmen and were Dismiss'd pay Cost which 
were paid 



The Town of Mendon being presented by y^ Grandjurors &61 
for not being provided with a Gramer School master according to 
law appeared by their Seledlmen and it appearing They were now 
provided they were dismiss'd paying Cost — p'' 

Jacob Aldrich Sealer of Leather for mendon Sworn l)efore the 
Court 



1 736-7. j Worcester County, Massachusetts. 175 

The Town of Sutton being presented by y^ Grandjurors &61 for 
not being provided with a School master &61 appeared by their 
Sele6tmen & were Excused paying Cost p*^ 



Nathan MacKintire of Oxford in y'= County of Worcester being 
presented by the Grandjurors appeared and made his Excuse and 
was Dismiss'd paying Cost p** 



Naomi ffarr wife of Joseph ffarr of Southborough in y^ County 
of Worcester Husbandman being presented by the Grandjurors for 
not attending on y*^ pubhck worship of God &61. She not being 
able to Come to Court her husband appeared and it appearing 
that it is through Indisposition of body That has Rendered her 
Uncapable of attending She was Dismiss'd pay y^ officer & attor- 
ney their Fees 



William Temple's Recognizance Discharged 



The Sele6lmen of Worcester presented to the Court a warrant 
dire6led to one of their Constables To Notifi Henry Wisdom with 
his wife and Three Children to depart y*^ Town &61 and it appear- 
ing to have been duly Served was approved by y^ Court 



Worcesters, Leicesters, & Rutlands presentments Continued Till 
may next 



Duncan m'farland of Rutland in y-^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman before y« Court behaveing himself in a Rude manner & 
especially towards W'" l^emple of Worcester In y*^ County of Wor- 
cester husbandman the Court order y' he Recognize with Two 
Suretys himself in Twenty pound and his Suretys in Ten pound 



< Fkbeiaky 



1-6 Coiu't of Gc?ia'al c>cssiofi6. i tebj, 

Each for his appearance at the Court of Generall Sessions of y^ 
peace to be held at Worcester In and for y County of Worcester 
In may next To answer To Such matters & things as shall be ob- 
jectted against him on his majestys behalf and in y^ mean time to 
be of }•* Good behaviour towards his majesty and all his Leige 
people and Especially Towards y« Said W" Temple and to doe 
and Receive that which by \-^ Said Court Shal be then & there 
enjovned him, &cl w'^ he did &: Daniell Campbell of Rutland 
aforsv*^ 6c Benjamin Bartlett of Brookfield in said County Husband- 
men were his Suretvs 



William Temple of Worcester In y* County of Worcester hus- 
bandman before y^ Court behaveing himself in a Rude maner and 
Especially towards Duncan m'farland of Rutland in y^ County oi 
Worcester husbandman The Court order that he Recognize with 
Two Suret}"s himself in Twenty pound and his Surety Ten pounds 
Each for his appearance at the Court of Generall Sessions of y"= 
peace to be held at Worcester In and for the County of Worcester 
in May next To answer to Such matters and things as Shall be ob- 
jected against him on his majestys behalf, and in the mean time 
to be of )■* good behaviour towards his majestye & all his Leige 
people and Especially Towards y^ Said Duncan m^farland and to 
doe and Receive that which by Said Court shall be then and there 
enjoyned him &61 which he did and Joseph Wooly housewright 
and Peter Jenison Taylor both of Worcester aforesaid were his 
Suretvs 



John Biglo of Worcester In y^ County of Worcester Inholder 
being presented by the Grandjurors for \^ County of Worcester 
for allowing W" Temple of Worcester afores** Husbandman to be 
at his house at an unseasonable time of y^ night & there Suffering 
of y' Said Temple to abuse Duncan m^farland &cl appeared in 
Court and made his Excuse & was Dismiss'd paying Cost 



^7Z7-\ Worcester County, Massachusetts. 177 

The Selectmen of y* Town of Worcester presented to y^ Court 
a Warr' directed to one of their Constables to notifie & warn Henry 
Wisdom with himself & three Children to depart y« Town &cl be- 
ing duly Served is accordingly approved. 



A Petition of Daniell Taylor John Amsden and John Snow agents 
for the Town of Southborough In the County of Worcester pre- 
sented to y^ Court a petition Seting forth That Margarett Taylor 
wife of John Taylor late a Resident in y*^ Town of Southborough 
& a little boy named Abraham Son of y^ Margarett being about 
Two years old are in poor and Indigent Circumstances (The Said 
John Taylor haveing gon away & left them) and Stand in need of 
Releife and are put upon the Town and also Shewing That Abra- 
ham Newton an Inhabitant of Said Southborough Father of y^ Said 
Margarett & Grandfather of y^ Said Abraham Son of y^ Said Mar- 
garett, is possess'd of a Considerable Estate notwithstanding which 
he does nothing towards y^ Relief of his Said Daughter & Grand- 
son yjraying y*^ Court To order proper Reliefe to be made by Said 
Abraham towards y^ Relief of y^ his Daughter &:d: Read and or- 
dered that the Petitioners Serve The Said Abraham Newton with 
a Copy of this Petition that So he Shew Cause if any he have at 
the next Court of Generall Sessions of the Peace To be holden at 
^Vorcester in and for y^ County of Worcester on y^ Second Tuesday 
of may next why he Should not be assessed according to law for 
y^ Support and maintainance of his Said Daughter & Grandson 



The Court order that The Sum of Seven Shillings be paid out of 
y® County Treasur}' To Capt Daniel Heywood for Expences in ap- 
prehending Phillip Kenison a Criminall or Capitall offender 



The Selectmen of y* Town of Lunenburg presented to y^ Court 
a warrant directed to one of their Constables to warn Nathan Bar- 
ron of Groton &cl with his wife and Three Small Children To leave 
their Town and it being duly Served was approved by y^ Court 

23 



V.' - Anno /?* R* Georgij Sccuttdt nunc 

Mai^nce liritainia Frand<z et Hibernia Decimo 

fiiXX a Court of Generall Sessions oi lac i'cax:*: be- 
gun and Held at Worcester in and for the 
Couoty of Worcester on the Second Tuesday 
of May being the Tenth day of Said month 
anno Dom 1737 



J , • l>ankl Taft 

I, 1^:stirps of V* T,.w-..i ?>...; -It 

WiWisTTj T*"n;-ion ^ ^,jw/*«w Henry L^ ^ ^.'^ 
y. Nahum Ward ' 

8am' WiHard 
John ICeyc« 



Old f ^rsruiiiiiy 

jif f ) s\.\ Pay M' I4enj* GootJrich 

M'T^iO!Tj3< Ki'^ ^' Maynard M' /anjcs> Ua!y 

M'< FerlMii> M'Janje!»W 

M' I yer M' Nath" iiftpm Kichard Wilds Uef/ 

M' J^aihan I yl'^f M' ^mm\ Davis Sheriff attciulcd on 

M' J<^^Mr|>h J.s'Ai M' Jiiiftr:> Wrij-fht them and Ea^h i>ct- 

' * Jin Ayrci M' Jo>cj4) lafi Jun' ^m aturndcd 3, <lays> 



>737S 



// WiYsftr C&mMh. Mitssiic^xseUs. \ 79 



SouthU>rvHigh Cap' I^An" Taykw foir\:n>itan 

Won^ster M' James Hv>ldin 

Lancaster M' GamalieM Benvtn 
Mendon M* Kv>iah Avllams 



l.ekx'sHer M" J|k>hin Whitisewi-^re 



XWxxJstvxk Xr John May[ 7 
l^x>krteKi \r John Rich 

W cstWrovjgh Xr Chs^rles Rk\ 

Shrewsbury M' Saa\ ' CVxsUv 



l.u»>ent>tiiir5j M' Jt.>hn Hevwvxxi 
Harvarvi M" K>4WihiA« Si*wver 



^IraftvMt \r Nehewiah ^^•.>^'> 

were Swvvrti alH thv>se \ luve 

y* nv.«rk «wder their «u'-^-> 

vw <S: st^nt hv>««e au^ :. 

Y*' Ck;i;ir^e was jjtven 



John ChanvMer Jun' Ksqr presenttxl an a^xx>'* liv>r l>WYii>g Ihre^^ 
Ux>ks anv>nnl to the S\n\\ of fourteen jK>un<ill fourteen shith«\^s w''* 
was aUowtxl v)>f l>> the (.\>urt ami orvier that the l\eas«rer of y* 
County |v;»y 1\> y* acvountant John ^'hanvUer Jun' K*>ir fv>nrteen 
jH>unvl fv'urteen ShiUiiVit^i in fuU the»\^>f 



An a«LxV of the lYaveU and attendance of the Crandjury frv>n\ 
may »73i6 To may »7,u an\ounti»\ii unto y* Sunw of Ki^ithty Ki^^ht 
|K>und fv>urttvn ShiUi»\iis l>ei»Vi* )x>vsente\l fvxr aUowanv e was Ia- 
amineil by y* Covnt anvl allowed and The lVei\surt^r kxivler Tv* \k»y 
N^" Svune tv> whvnne it is l>\)e 



tmxlereil that the Sum of IVenty Seven shilh»\i;s he allowed! and 
j>aid out of the County h>?asury To WiUiam Jenison Rs\j' fvxr di^- 
in^ a vault v\;ol under the iioal 



1 80 Cottrt of General Sessions. \ term , 

Cap* Benjamin Flagg County Treasurer presented his acco" from 
may 1736 To may 1737 which was Carefully Examined in Court 
whereby it appears he has made payments amounting To y« Sum 
of one hundred Sixty two pounds & three pence of which he is 
discharged & y^ ballance of his acco" being ninety one pound four- 
teen Shillings & Seven pence he is Still to acco" for when Rec** 
and the Court direft the Clerk to Sign his acco' in their name 



Benony Boynton of Lunenburg in y^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman having on the Tenth day of September last past Recog- 
nized before Josiah Willard Esqr one of his Majestys Justices of y^ 
peace for y'^ County of Worcester to our Sovereign Lord the King 
In tjie Sum of five pounds lawfuU mony of New England with 
Suretys viz' Benjamin Bellows of y^ Town & County aforesaid hus- 
bandman and Samuell Davice of y^ Town & County aforesaid Car- 
penter in y^ Sum of fifty Shillings of y^ Like mony Each Condi- 
tioned that the Said Benony Boynton Should personally appear 
before y^ Court of Generall Sessions of y^ peace held here in No- 
vember last (which Recognizance was Continued from Court to 
Court till this time) to prosecute to Effe6l an appeal by him made 
from a Judgment Recovered against the Said Benony Boynton by 
John Grout on behalf of our Sovereign Lord the King at a Tryall 
before the Said Justice on y^ Day & year aforesaid for y^ payment 
of Cost &61 as ^ y^ Recognizance appears and the Said Benony 
Boynton not appearing tho' Solomly Called to Come into Court 
but made Default and the Said Benjamin Bellows & Samuell Da- 
vice the Suretys being also Solomly Called to bring y*^ Said Benony 
Boynton into Court did not appear but made Default The Court 
therefore order that the Said Recognizance be declared forfieted 
and it was accordingly declared forfieted and ordered that a writt 
of Scire facias be issued out against the Said Benjamin Bellows & 
Samiiell Davice for y*^ Sum of fifty Shillings Each lawfull mony of 
New England for y^ use of our Lord the King & also for y^ Cost 
& Charges occasioned by y^ non appearance of y^ Said Benony 
Boynton 



1737- 1 Worcester County, Massach7isetts. i8i 

Gedion Cumstock of Smithfield in y<= Government of Road Island 
being bound over To this Court by M' Justice Taft as "^ y^ Re- 
cognizance appears Came into Court To answer y« Same & was 
Dismiss'd paying Cost 



An Foster of Lunenburg appeared in Court to answer to her 
presentment for not attending on y^ PubHck Worship of God &61 
& was Excused & Dismiss'd paying Cost 



Oliver Bly and Mary his wife being bound over to this Court to 
answer to their being Guilty of the Crime of Fornication, appeared 
in Court & Confess'd themselves Guilty The Court therefore or- 
der they pay a fine of thirty Shillings Each &c & Cost & fees which 
They paid & were dismiss'd 



Dunkin IV^'farlands Recognizance Discharged 

Vallontine Butler of Shrewsbury in y^ County of Worcester be- 
ing presented by y'' Grandjurors for Traveling &61 on y'^ Lords day 
appeared and made his Excuse & was dismiss'd paying Cost 

William Linsey of Rutland in y«= County of Worcester being pre- 
sented by y^ Grandjury for prophane Cursing and Swearing ap- 
peared in Court pleading Guilty was find Ten Shillings «S: Cost & 
fees pa'd 

John Hinds of Brookfield in y<^ County of Worcester husbandman 
being presented by the Grandjurors for the Crime of Drunkeness 
pleaded Guilty & find Ten Shillings & paid Cost— In Two Cases 



John Hinds of Brookfield in y^ County of Worcester husband- 
man being presented by the Grandjurors for absenting himself 



1 82 Cou7't of General Sessions. ^^EBM, 

from y^ Publick Worship of God appeared in Court & made his 
Excuse & was Dismiss'd paying Cost 



The Sele6lmen of Westborough presented to the Court a War- 
rant Dire6led to one of their Constables To Notifie & warn Do6lor 
Joshua Wheat with his wife EHzabeth & four Children to depart 
y' Town & it appearing to be duly Servd was approved 



Josiah Wadkins of Upton in y<= County of Worcester husband- 
man appellant from a Sentence or Judgment given ag" him by 
Dan" Tafft Esq' &61 appeared in Court was find Ten Shillings & 
to pay Cost & fees w''h he paid 



The Sele6l men of y^ Town of Worcester presented to y^ Court 
for approbation a Town Vote or Buy Law Relateing to Rams & was 
approved accordingly 



Elizabeth Warner of Harvard In y^ County of Worcester Single 
being bound over by M"" Justice Wilder To this Court to answer 
for her being Guilty of y^ Crime of Fornication appeared Confess'd 
y"^ fait & was dismiss'd paying a fine of thirty Shillings & Cost 



The Town of Leicester being presented for not being provided 
with a Schoolmaster according to law appeared and made an Ex- 
cuse in behalf of the Town which being duly Considered they were 
Excused paying Cost 



Thomas Ainsworth of Brookfield in y^ County of Worcester hus- 
bandman appeared in Court to answer to his presentment by y^ 
Grandjurors for Wilfully absenting himself from y^ Publick Worship 
of God &61 and made his Excuse tS: was Dismiss'd paying Cost 



1737- ! Worcester Cotmty, Massachusetts. 183 

Phillip Negro Serv' To Samuell Dudley Esq' appeared in Court 
to answer To his presentment by y® Grandjurors his master beipg 
present who made his Excuse and he was dismiss'd paying Cost 
& fees 



Nathaniell Dike Jun' of Sutton in y<^ County of Worces[ter] hus- 
bandman appeared in Court To answer to Two presents against 
him for Wilfully absenting him Self from y*^ Publick Worship of 
of God &61 & made his Excuse which was accepted & he was 
dismiss'd paying Cost 

Wilham Temples Recognizance Discharged 



David Sanger of Woodstock In the County of Worcester hus- 
bandman appeared in Court To answer to his presentment by y^ 
Graudjurors for absenting himself from y"^ Publick of God &61 as ap- 
pears '^ y^ presentm' he made Excuse & was Dismiss'd paying Cost 



Peter Laurance of Grafton In the County of Worcester Indian 
planter appeared in Court To answer for his absenting himself from 
y^ Publick Worship of God &c as '^ his presentment appears & 
made his Excuse which was accepted and he was Dismiss'd pay- 
ing Cost 

The Votes Sent in from y*^ Severall Towns for y« Choice of a 
County Treasurer and being opened in Court & Inspe6ted it ap- 
peared that Capt Benjamin Flagg of Worcester was Ele6led by 
Every Vote and he was Sworn in Court to y^ faithfuU Discharge 
of his Office by y^ Clerk ^ order of Court 



Eleoner Kellog of Brookfield in y'^ County of Worcester Single- 
woman being presented by the Grandjurors for our Lord y^ King 
upon Oath for Comitting y^ Crime of fornication at Brookfield 



184 Court of General Sessions. ^^kbm, 

aforesaid having had a bastard Child there born of her body Some- 
time in y^ month of July 1736. Contrary to the peace of &6t as 
also to the law in that Case made and provided as "^ y^ present- 
ment made in aug" 1736 appears, and now the Said Eleoner Kel- 
log being brought before y*^ Court To answer for y^ Same, She 
pleaded not Guilty & Thereupon The Court order that She pay as 
a fine to our Sovereign Lord the King fifty Shillings or that She be 
Severely Whip'd on the naked body, Ten Stripes on the Twelfth 
Instant between y^ Hours of Three and four of the Clock afternoon 
& that She pay Cost & Fees Taxed at five pound five Shillings & 
Two pence & Stand Comitted till Sentence be performed & She 
was Comitted to the Sheriff according with a Copy of the Sentence 



Samuell Dudley Esq'' of Sutton in y'^ County of Worcester being 
presented by y*^ Grandjurors for Prophane Swearing appeared t\: 
pleaded to y^ Insufficiency of y*^ presentment w*-''' being duly Con- 
sidered The Court order presentment to be Quash'd & y'= S'' Dud- 
ley paid Costs 



A memoriall of y*^ Sele6l men of Sutton Dated may 9"'. 1737 
praying y*^ Court To alter y^ Country Road Lately laid out from 
Sutton To Worcester viz' part thereof near y^ present Dwelling 
House of Phillip Chase &61 Read and it is accordingly allow'd of 

Att^ John Chandler Jun Cle pac 



General Index. 



I 



General Index. 



Adams. Josiah, 179. 

Ruth and Thomas, 103. 
Addleton, Matthew, 74. 80. 
Adultery ignored by this court, 44. n 
Ainsworth, Huldah and Nathan. 166. 

Thomas, 74, 182. 
Albee, Ebenezer, 87, 96. 
Aldrich, David, 103. 

Jacob. 174. 
Allard, Maturin, 138, 143. 
Allen, Robert, 132, 140. 
Amsden. Isaac, 30, 100, 105, 115. 
117, 124. 
Jacob, 72. 
John. 177. 
Anabaptists. t,%. 44, 55, 82. 
Anderson, Abraham, iii. 
Arms, Coat of, gift to the County. 66 
Assault, cases of, 24, 126. 
Assistants, Court of. 7, 8. 
Atherton. John, 113, 129. 130, 131. 
Ayres, John, 151, 163. 172, 17S. 
Wells, 120. 
William, 125, 128, 145, 150. 



Baker, Thomas, 24. 

Ball, Eleazer, 100, 106, 115, 117, 124. 

Eli, 30. 
Ballard, Ruth, 156. 
Banister, Francis. 121. 

Joseph, 23, 12,. 45- 

Seth, 121. 
Barber, Mary, 140, 146. 

Matthew, 122, 146. 



Robert, 43, 77, ,23. 
Barnard, Isaac, 162. 
Barnes, Comfort, 30. 

Samuel, 46, 61, 68. 
Baron, Joseph. 23. 45. 

Nathan, 177. 
Bartlett, Benjamin, i 76. 

Experience, 140. 14,, 147. 
Nathaniel, loS, 116. 
Barton, Caleb. 138. 143. 
Bastardy, 80, 132. 141, ,56, 184. 
Baxter, Joseph, 125. 
Beamons, Samuel. 98. 
Beds for the jail. 58. 
Belcher, Governor, 19. 13^, ,,5 
Bellows, Benjamin, 180. 

Tabitha. 118, 
Beman, Ebenezer, 120. 

Gamaliel, 179. 
Bennett, John, 46, 50, 61, 68. 
Bettys, James, 132. 
Bigelow, Daniel, 132. 

John. 72, 113, 129. 130, 160,161. 
176. 
Blackstone River. 66, 69. 
Bly. Mary and Oliver, 181. 
Bonds required of Sheriff, 165. 
Boyden, Joseph, 130, 161, 162, 167. 
Boynton. Benony, 180. 
Bridge over French River, 147. 165. 
Bridges. Mehitable. 85. 

Samuel. 85, 93. 
Brigham, Nathan, 72. 

Timothy. 120. 
Brookfield. 35. 52. 54. 59. 94, ,03. 
119, 139. 147- 155. 164. 



i88 



General Index. 



Brown. John, 169. 
Samuel. 179. 
William. 30, 69. 78, 84. 90, 94, 

99, 138, 143- 
Bruce, George, 72. 
Bucknam, Jeremiah, 169. 

Sarah, 151. 
Bugbee. Jonathan, 100, 105, 115, 117, 

124. 
Bullard, Benjamin and Ruth, 129. 
Burr, Isaac, 77. 
Burts, John, 113. 
Bush, Amariah, 86. 

John. 72. 131, 161. 
Butler, James, 59, 60. 

Valentine, 181. 



Cage in the jail, 43. 
Caldwell, James, 46. 

WiUiam. 57, 61, 82. 
Calhoon, Samuel, 132. 
Campbell, Daniel, 176. 

William, 132. 
Carpenter, Eliphalet, 125, 128, 137, 
145, 150. 
Nathan, 131, 161, 162. 
Carter, Capt. 113. 
Susanna, 126. 
Thomas, 129, 160. 
Timothy, 70, 138, 143. 
Cattle, tax on, 92. 
Chaffee, Benjamin, 116. 121. 
Chandler. John, 17-19. 23, 26, 29, 33, 
45- 50. 57. 58, 61, 68, 78, 83, 
84, 90, 99, 105, 117, 124. 128. 
135, 137, 145, 148, 150, 153, 
155, 163, 164, 166, 172, 178. 
John, Jr., 17, 19-21, 23, 26, 29, 

?>l^ 34. 43- 45' 49. 50. 53. 57- 
59-61. 65, 68, 76-78, 84. 85. 
88, 90, 91, 94, 96-99, 102, 103, 
105. III. 112, 117. 119. 122- 



124, 128, 133-135. 137, 139, 

143-145- 150, 151, 153. 163, 
164, 168-170. 172, 178, 179, 
184. 
Chapin. .Seth, 23, 105. 115. 117, 150, 

153, 163. 
Chapman. Ann. 166. 

Stephen, 146. 

William. 166. 
Chase, Isaac, 76. 

Philip. 24, 65, 169, 170, 184. 

Samuel, 77. 
Child, Ephraim, 30. 46, 50, 61, 68. 

Joseph, 126. 

Joshua, 100, 105, 115, 124. 
Clark, Joseph, 66. 
Clerk, title of, 40. 
Coburn, Daniel, 113, 131, 162. 
Coller, Isaac, Lydia and Oliver, 146. 
Colwes, Seth, 92. 
Constables, 46. 
Converse, Capt. 113. 

Joseph, 130. 

Joshua, 72. 
Cook, Ebenezer, 81. 

John, 179. 
Coolidge, Isaac, 130. 

Obediah, 63, 72. 89. 
Corlile, Peter, 65, 71. 
Coroners, 23, 105, 115, 124, 128, 150, 

153, 163. 

Corre6lion, House of, 58. 

Costs exacted of innocent parties, 44. 
County, A61 of Incorporation, 10-13. 
Towns comprised in, 11. 
Officers eledled, 21, 26, 46, 72, 

104. 
Tax, 59. 
Court House, 53, 58, 83, 102, 104, 

112. 
Courts, Assistants', County, Strangers' 

etc. 8. 
Craggin, Benjamin, 98. 



Gejieral Index. 



189 



Cratten, Easter and William, 36. 
Crawford, Samuel, 91. 
Crosby, John, 46, 50, 68, 145, 160, 
161. 

Joseph, 24, 77, 125, 128, 130, 
137. 150, 161. 

Samuel, 179. 
Culver, James, 132. 
Cumstock, Gedion, iSl. 
Currier, Thomas. 107. 
Cursing and Swearing, see Siueariitg. 
Curtis, John, 72. 
Cushions, 134. 
Cutler, James, 113. 

D 

Daggit, Ebenezer, 169. 
Dakin. John, 155. 

Simon, 72. 
Daly. James, 178. 

John, 92, 151, 153, 163, 172. 
Damon, John, 107. 
Daniels, Ebenezer, 46, 61, 68. 
Dankin, Hannah, 116. 

Samuel, 140. 
Davenport, Elizabeth, 118, 125. 

Jonathan, 69. 

Nathaniel, 116, 118, 125. 

Richard, 78. 84, 90. 94. 99. 

Samuel, 156. 
Davis, Benjamin, 91. 

Daniel, 72. 

Lieut., 113. 

Samuel, 151, 153. 163, 172. 178, 
199. 

Simon, 129. 130, 138. 143. 
Defamation, 94, 95, 98, 120, 121, 173. 
Dennis, Nathan, 156. 
Denny, Daniel, 23. t,?,- 38, 45, 48, 49, 

55. 82. 
Doolittle, Joseph, 140, 147. 

Dorr, , 85. 

Drunkenness, penalty, 71; cdses, 71, 



85'87, 93, 95. 107, i54. 181. 
Dudley, Francis, 77. 

Samuel, 17, 19, 20. 23, 26, 29, 

33,45, 50, 51- 56. 57. 61, 68, 
70, 77, 78, 84, 90, 99. 105, 
117, 124, 128, 130, 131, 150, 
153, 161, 169. 183. 184. 

Dunsmore, Eunice, 118. 
John, n6, 118. 

Dupee, Megee. 107. 

Dwight, Joseph, 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 

29, 32,^ 36,45.50. 5i« 57- 61, 
66, 68, 78, 79, 84, 85, 90. 99, 
102, 103, 105, 117, 121, 124, 
128, 130, 133, 147, 153, 162, 
178. 

Dyer, Joseph, 161, 162, 173. 

Dyke, Nathan, 30. 

Nathaniel. 46, 50, 61, 68, 152, 
183. 

E 

Eager, Abraham, 89. 

Bezaleel, 161. 
Earl, Ralph, 87, 88. 
Eddy, John, 50. 

Edmunds, Ebenezer, 83, 91, 95. 
Elliott, Daniel. 79, 91. 
Ellis, Hannah. 62. 

John, 62. 80. 
Emerson, John, 69, 78. 90, 99. 

Nathaniel, 108. 



Fairfield, Skipper. 77, 166. 
Farnsworth, David, 151. 

Hannah, 151. 

Isaac. 59. 130, 153, 160, 161. 

Jonathan, 69. 78, 84. 90, 99. 
P^arr, Joseph and Naomi. 175. 
Fast, laboring on a public, 109. 
Fay, Daxid, 151, 153, 161, 163, 172, 
178. 



IQO 



General Index. 



John, 113, 125. 128, 131, 137- 

145, 150, 161. 
Fayervveather. Thomas, 74. 
Fine divided among the Judges. 42. 
Fire, accidents by, to be guarded 

against, 165. 
Fitz Gerald, John, ill, 123. 
Flagg, Benjamin, 48, 58, 63, 72, 94, 

100, 102, 104, 118. 125, 127, 

129-131, 138, I43i I44> 147' 
151, 160-162, 164, 165, 169, 
180, 183. 
R., 120. 
Fletcher, Eleazer, 51, 76, 161, 162. 
Floor in prison chamber, 119. 
Forbush, Aaron, 120. 
James. 132. 

Jonathan. 151, 153^ 178- 
Force, Benjamin, 130. 
Foster, Ann, 181. 
Thomas, 155. 
Fornication, punishment, 44; cases 
of, 36, 37^ 42. 52- 53- 58, 62, 
71, 80. 81, 91, 103, 106-109, 
116, 118, 125, 129, 132, 139, 
140, 148, 151, 156, 164, 166. 
181-183. 
Frissell, John, 131. 

G 

Gaol, (usually, in old records, spelled 

Goal:) See Jail. 
Gassett, Bethia. 85. 
Gibbs, John, 138, 143- 

Lydia and Samuel, 52. 

Thomas, 102. 
Gilbert, Thomas, lOO, 106, 124. 
Gleason, Philip, 122. 

Simon, 170, 171. 

Thomas, 100, 105, 117, 124. 
Goddard. Edward, 128. 

Robert, 151, 153. 163,' 169, 172. 
178. 



Godman, Mary, 85. 
Goffe, Edmund, 78, 88, 130. 
Goodrich, Benjamin, 151, 153, 178. 
Gookin, Daniel, First Sheriff.. 35, 54, 
58, 64, 65, 73, 86, 119, 120, 
123, 139, 154, 160, 164, 165. 
167-169, 173. 
Goss, Philip, 113, 160. 
Gowen, Benjamin, 97. 
Grafton, 134, 164, 17 1. 
Gray, Samuel, 107. 

William, 73, 107, 121. 
Green, Nathaniel, 151, 153. 163. 172, 
178. 
Samuel, 48. 

Thomas, 38, 55, 82, 146. 
William, 125, 128, 137, 145, 150. 
Grout. John, 180. 

H 

Hall, Parcivall, 23. 33, 45. 

Thomas, 73. 
Hambleton, John, 93, no. 
Hapgood, Thomas, 42, 125, 128, 137, 

145, 150. 
Harris, James, 166. 
Harthan, Eleazer, 165. 
Hartvvell, Edward, 23, t,1, 45, 90, 

105, 115, 117, 128, 129, 153, 

160, 161. 
William, 113. 
Harvard, 94, 119, 139, 164. 
Harwood, John, 62. 64, 113, 116, 

121, 129-131, 143, 144, 155^ 

160, 161. 
Hassanamisco, (now Grafton) 64, 

66, 69, 75. 
Hastings, John, 36. 
Hayes, John, in. 
Haynes, David, 85, 100. 
Hazeltine, John, 25, 30, 113, 131, 

161. 
Heatop, James, 125, 128, 130, 137, 

145, 150. 



General Index. 



191 



Hedge, Elisha, 120. 
Heywood, Capt., 113. 

Daniel, 40, 43, 54, 69, 77, 129, 
160, 169, 177. 

Ebenezer, 131. 

Eleazer. 113. 130, 160, 161. 

Ephraim. 91. 

John, 179. 

Jonas, 91. 

Nathan. 100, 106, 115, 117. 124. 

Phineas, 43, 95, 98. 

William, 120. 
Hill. Daniel, 108. 

Ephraim, 113. 130. 

Ralph, 61. 
Hinds, Enoch. 60. 

Hopestill, 60, 95, 98. 

Jacob, 60. 

John, 60, 181. 

Mary, 54, 60. 
Hobbs, John, 138, 143. 

Jonathan, 156. 
Holden, James, 50, 61, 68, 77. 95. 

98, 179. 
Holoway, William, 95, 98. 
Hooker. Hannah, 166, 173. 
Hopkins, Thomas, 170, 171. 
Horn, Robert, 113, 130, 131, 160, 

161. 
Houghton, Benjamin, 129. 160-162. 

Betty, 139. 

Jonas, 48, 50, 61, 68. 129, 131. 

Jonathan, 21, 26. 46. 59, 77. 
113, 125, 128, 129. 137. 145. 
150, 160. 
House of Corre61ion, 58. 
How, Daniel, 23, ^t,, 45, 113. 131. 
161. 

Ebenezer. 72, 155. 

James. 161. 

Moses, 69, 78. 84. 90. 99, 161. 

Nehemiah, 113, 130, 161. 179. 
Hubbard, Daniel, 95, 98, 160, 161. 



John, 102. 113, 130. 

Jonathan, 113, 160. 
Hulnow, James, 169. 
Hunter, Robert, 140. 
Hutchins, Thomas, 85. 

I 

Indians, penalty for selling strong 

drink to, 25, 28. 
Innholders' names, 113, 129, 160. 



Jail, 26. 27, 29, 42, 43, 47, 54. 58, 69, 
72. 

Jennings. Elizabeth and John, 73. 91. 

Jennison. Peter, 176. 
Robert, 97. 

William. 17, 19. 23-27. 29, 33, 
41,45. 50, 51, 56-58, 61, 68, 
70, 75, 78, 83-87, 90. 91, 96, 
99, 102, 105, 112. 115, 117, 
119, 120, 124, 132, 134. 137, 

i4S< 150. 152-154, 158- 162, 
163, 166, 168, 171. 172, 178, 
179. 
Johnson, Benjamin, 100, 105, 115, 
117, 120, 124. 
Elisha, 66, 69, 70, 113. 
Samuel. 69. 78, 84, 90, 99. 
Solomon, 24, 71, 79, 93. 109, 
154, 170. 
Jones, l)aniel and Merriam, 108. 

William, 125, 12S, 137. 145, 150. 
Jordan, Dudley, 85, 103. 

John and Submit. 35. 
Juries, first established, 8. 

Grand, 23, 33. 45. 46, 50, 61, 68, 
69, 99, 100, 105, 124. 125, 

137, I45> I50> 151, 153- 163, 
172, 178. 179. 
Petit, 30, 72, 95, 98. 120, 138, 
143, 169. 
Jury seats to be made comfortable, 1 1 2 



192 



General hidex. 



K 

Keith, Gershom, 125, 128. 137, 145, 

ISO- 
Israel, 120. 
James, 23. T^i,, 45, 77. 

Kellog, Eleaner, 73, 80, 183. 

Kelso, Hugh. 123. 

Kendall, Hepzibah, 109. 
Peter, 106, 109. 

Kenison, Philip, 177. 

Keyes, James, 72. 

John, 90, 99, 105, 117, 124, 128, 

135. 137, I45> 153, 163, 178. 
Jonas, 130, 131. 

Solomon, 113, 129. 160. 
King, Henry, 120. 

William, 37, 55. 
Knight, Beriah, 106, 107. 



Lamb, Jonathan, 79, 93-95. 

Lydia, 79, 93. 
Lancaster, 59, 94, 119, 139, ig^. 
Larceny, 63, 11 1. 112. 

Larkin, , 113. 

William, 130, 161, 162. 
Latiney, Mary. n8. 
Lawdy, Samuel, no, in, 123. 
Lawrence, Peter, loi, no. 
Learned, Ebenezer, 46, 50, 51, 61. 
66, 68, 74, 82, 123. 
Isaac, 23, T,T,, 45, 128, 145, 150. 
Lee, Henry, 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, 
29> ZZ^ 43^ 45, 48, 50, 53, 57. 
58, 61, 68, 78, 86, 90, 99, 102, 
105. n5, n7, 124, 128, 129, 

130, 135. 145, 150, 153, 158, 
160, 161. 163, 172, 178. 

Leicester, 35, 59, 73, 74, 81, 94, 102, 
n6, n9. 139, 164, 175, 182. 

Leightle, Samuel, 53. 

Leland, James. 77, \\t^, 130, 160. 162. 

Leonard, Moses, 113. 



Lesure, Abigail, 86. 

Libel, 173. 

License Law, 114. 

Lill^e, Samuel, 69. 78, 84, 90, 99, 169. 

Linsey, William, 181. 

Lord's Day, violation of, see Sabbath 

breaking. 
Lovett, Capt., \\t^. 

Daniel, 129, 160. 
Lunenburg, 35, 47, 59, 94, ug, ug^ 

139^ 152, 164, 174. 
Lyon, Amariah, 173, 174. 

Joseph, 95, 151, 153, 160, 163, 
172, 178. 
Lynds, John, 102. 

M 



Mackintire, Daniel, 157. 
Martha, 80, 155, 157. 
Nathan, 175. 
Obediah, 171. 
Thomas, 141. 
Magregorie, James, 151. 
Marcy, Moses, 130, 161. 
Mariess, George, 85. 
Marsh, Benjamin, 38, 55. 
Marville, Peter, 91. 
Marvin, Moses, 131. 
Mattin, John, 95. 
Matthis, John, 98. 
May [?] John, 179. 
Maynard, David 69, 78, 84, 90, 99. 
John, 161. 

Simon, 63, 138, 143, 151, 153, 
163, 172. 
McCain, Robert, 147. 
McCarry, William, 149. 
McClain, Andrew, 141. 
McCkire, Alexander. 140. 
McFarland, Duncan, 174, 175, 181. 
Mcjerrald. John, 140. 
McMichel, Margaret and William 71 
McNeal, John, ni. 



Ge?teral Index. 



193 



McTroy. Daniel and Margaret, 92. 

Mencon, Ebenezer. 113. 

Mendon, 56, 59, 64, 75, 94, 104, 116, 

119. 129, 139, 155, 164. 174. 
Merriam, Ebenezer 129, 131, 160. 
Miller, Isaac, 24. 
Misco, George, (Indian) widow of, 

25, 30. 
Moore, Elijah, 113, 130, 161. 

Eliza, 104. 

Fairbanks, 129, 132, 162. 

Isaac, 78, 84, 90, 100. 

James, 69. 78. 84, 90, 99, 129. 

Jonathan, 36, 37. 

Joseph, 104. 

Mary. 39. 

Nathaniel, 77. 

Paul, 102. 

Richard, 30, 69, 78, 83. 84, 90. 
99. 

Robert, 104. 
Morris, Edward, 69, 78, 84, 90. 
Morse. Jane, 109. 

John, 120. 

Joshua, 131. 

Samuel, 109, 121. 

N 

Negro, Tom, 87, 88. 
Newell, Thomas, 98. 
Newhall, Daniel. 161. 

Thomas, 48, 49. 
Newton, Abner, 58. 

Abraham, 159, 166, 167, 177. 

David, 133. 

James, 69. 78, 84, 90, 99. 

Josiah. Joshua, Joss, 133. 

Jonathan, 52. 

Kesiah, 133. 

Margaret,, 5 1, 62. 

Martha, 133. 

Rachel. 159, 166, 167. 

Sybella, 167. 

Tabitha, 52. 



Nichols, William, 138, 143. 

Notes by the Editor, 19, 28, 31, 40, 

43, 44, 66, 67, 71, 114, 136. 
Nuting, James, John, Josiah, 65, 80. 



Old, William, 69. 78, 84, 90, 99. 
Orcutt, James, 120, 1 21. 
Osgood, David, 95, 98. 

Hooker, 69, 78, 84, 90, 99. 
Overing, John, 70, 120. 
Oxford, 59, 94, 119, 123. 139, 166. 



Palmer, Thomas, 86. 
Parks, Na., 95, 98. 
Parsons, Rev. David, 29-31, 40, 47, 
49, 52- 57, 82, 86, 102, 119, 
148. 

Joseph, 31. 
Partrick, John, 138. 
Payson, Jonathan, 129, 160. 
Payton. Jonathan, 113. 
Peace, breach of, 146, 148. 

General Commission for the. 17. 
Peibles, Robert, 46. 
Peirce, Ephraim, 46, 50, 68. 

Martha, Hetty, John, Nicholas, 
82. 

Thomas, 82, 112, 122. 

William, 109. 
Perrim. John, 76. 
Perry, Joseph, 79, 102. 
Peters. Bemsley and Hannah, 125. 
Philip, (a slave) 183. 
Pocket picking, no. 
Pollen, Jane, 129. 
Pratt, Josiah, 122. 

Nathaniel, 133. 

Thomas, 138. 143. 
Prentice, Rev. John, 10. 
Presentments, lists of, 51, 65, 66. 73, 

79. 85. 
Price, Sarah, 104. 



194 



General Index. 



Prison Yard enlarged, 154. 
Profanity, see Swearing. 
Putnam, Elihu, 179. 



Quakers exempted from ministerial 
tax, 44, n. 

R 

Rams, by-laws regulating, 155. 
Ramsdell, Benjamin, 155. 
Rawson Grindal and Mrs., 85. 

William, 56, 75, 77, 113, 129, 
130, 160. 
Read, Ebenezer, 100, 106, 115, 117, 
124. 
Nathaniel, 130, i6o, 162. 
Samuel, 113, 130, 1 61. 
Sarah, 42. 
Records, law requiring them to be 

kept, 8. 
Register of Deeds, eledlion of, 21, 26, 

152. 
Representative System, origin of, 8. 
Retailers' names, 1 13, 129, 1 60- 1 62. 
Rice, Aaron, 95, 98. 
Asher, 109. 
Charles, 179. 
Edward, 46, 61, 68. 
Gershom, 23, 2,2,, 45- 63, 69, 77- 
79, 84, 85, 90, 99, 105, 115, 
117, 128, 147, 150, 153, 163, 
165. 169. 
Jezeniah. 103. 
Jonas. 30, 77. 
Jotham. 42, 100, 105, 115, 117, 

124, 154, 169. 
Lydia, 103. 

Moses, 102, 113, 129, 160. 
Perez, 30, 72, 113, 130, 161, 169. 
Thomas, 23, 33, 36, 45. 'Si. ^53^ 

163, 172, 178. 
Tyrus, 77, 179. 
Rich, John, 148, 156, 179. 



Paul, 80. 
Richardson, Abigail, 165. 
Isaac, 130. 
Israel. 130, 131. 161. 
Jonathan, 113. 
Josiah, 129. 
Thomas, 46, 48, 61, 65, 68, 73, 

113. 130, 161. 
William, 69, 78, 84, 99. 1 13, 129, 
160. 
Roads, 51, 56, 64, 74-76, 82, 83, 86, 

92, 102, 157. 
Robins, Ebenezer, 1 13. 
Eleazer, 131, 161. 
Rodes, Thomas, 104. 
Rug. Joseph, 121. 
Russell, John, 98. 
William, 109. 
Rutland. 35. 47, 59. 92, 94- ii9- 139, 
164, 175. 

S 

Sabbath-Breaking, penalty, 67; cases 

65, 71, 74, 80, 85, 91, 100, 

103. 107, 108, 116, 122, 141, 

142. 146. 147. 158, 159, 181. 

Sadler, John. 76, 77. 113, 129. 131, 

160, 162. 
Salisbury, John, 149. 
Sanderson, John, 138. 
Sanger, David. 183. 
Sanouse, Joseph, 146. 
Sargent, John. 131. 

Jonathan, 1 13, 130, 160. 161. 
Sawyer, Bezaleel, 30, 100, 105, 115, 
117, 124. 
Caleb, 125, 12S. 137, 145. 150. 
Elias, 129, 151, 153, 163, 172, 

178. 
Jonathan. 179. 
Mary and Nathaniel, 140. 
Schoolmaster, neglecfl to provide a, 
penalty, 43; cases, 35, 81, 
108, u6, 174, 175, 182. 



General Index. 



195 



Sessions Days appointed, 147. 
Sewell, Timothy, 8i, 86. 
Sherman, Nathaniel. 161, 162. 
Shrewsbury, 51, 59, 94, 104, 119, 139, 

164. 165. 
Sibley, John, 58, 77. 

Joseph, 100, 106, 115, 117. 124. 
Singletary, John, 169. 
Slarah, John, 141. 
Slinglee, Ebenezer, 154. 
Smiley, David and Eliza, 108. 
Smith, Benjamin, 85. 

Ephraim and Harriet, 108. 

James, 161. 

Peter, 30, 161. 
Snow, John, 177. 
Southborough. 35. 47. 59, 94, 108, 

119, 139, 164. 
Southgate, Howard, 60. 

Richard, 48, 49. 
Sprague, Ebenezer, 1 13, 131, 161. 
Stacy, John, 130, 131, 162. 
Stearns, John, 125, 128, 145, 150, 
169. 

Thomas, 41, 113, 129, 160, 169. 
Steel, Thomas, 87, 88. 
Steer, John, 92. 

Stevens, Cyprian, 151, 153, 163, 172, 
178. 

Joseph, 23, 33. 
Stocks, negledl to provide, 35, 42, 43 
Stockwell, John, 125, 128, 137, 145, 
150, 169. 

William, 130, 131, 162. 
Stone, Simon, 100, 106, 117, 124, 140. 
Stowe. Daniel and Easter, 140. 

Samuel, 174. 
Strong Drink, sold to Indians, pen- 
alty, 28; cases, 25, 30. 

Presented for selling, 165. 
Summonses for witnesses, 103. 
Sumner, Joseph, lOO, 106, 1 15. 
Sutton, 51, 52, 57, 59, 64, 75, 94, 119 
139, 164, 174. 



Sutton Road, 157, 162, 167-169, 184. 
Swearing, penalty, 66; cases, 65, 71, 
93. 181, 184. 



Taft, Daniel, 17, 19. 20. 23, 33. 45, 
50, 51, 56, 68, 78, 81, 84, 85, 
87, 90, 95, 99. 105, 109, 117, 
128, 145, 178, 182. 

Joseph, 151. 153, 163, 172, 17S. 

Robert, 23, 33, 45. 
Taylor, Abraham, 177. 

Daniel, 125, 128, 137, 145, 150, 
177, 179. 

James, 46, 50, 61, 68, 120. 

John, 76, 177. 

Margaret, 177. 

Ralph Kendall, 106. 

Robert, 76. 

Roland, 1 13. 

William, 89, 100, 105, 124. 
Tavern Keepers' names, 113, 129. 
Tax, County, 59, 94, 119, 139, 164. 
Temple, William, 174-176, 183. 
Terry, Samuel, 85, 87, 95, 96. 
Thayer, Isaac, 125, 128, 145, 150. 

Thomas, 69, 78, 84, 90, 99. 
Theft, loi, 149. 
Thoits, Mary, 151. 
Thompson, Mary, 104. 

Woodland, 46, 50. 51. 68. 
Tomlin, Isaac. 46, 50, 61, 68, 126, 

133- 157- 
Torrey, William, 87, 95-97. 
Towne, Jonathan, 72. 
Towns presented, 35. 
Townsend, Benjamin, 24. 41, 42. 
Travelling on the Lord's Day, see 

Sabbath Breaking. 
Treasurer, County, eledlion of. 21. 26 

72, 104, 127, 152, 183. 

Trowbridge, , 80, 88, 130. 

Troy, Hannah and Margaret, 104. 
Turner, Alexander and Mary, 71. 



196 



General Index. 



Tute. Amos, James, Kesiah, Mary, 

Thankful, 92. 
Tyler, Nathan, 151, 153. 163, 172, 

178. 

U 

Upham, Ezekiel, loi, no. 
Upton, 139. 

Uxbridge, 35, 47, 59, 64, 75, 94, 119. 
139, 164. 

V 

Vault to the prison. 154, 179. 
W 

Wadkins, Josiah, 182. 

Samuel, 81, 86, 161, 162. 
Wait, Joseph. 126, 133. 

Nathaniel, 86. 

Ruhamah. 126, 133, 157. 

William, 77, 126, 133, 156. 
Waldo, Jonathan. 74. 

Samuel, 85. 
Walker, Eb., 95. 

Joseph, 120. 

Obediah, 98, 113, 130, 161. 
Wallis, David. 131. 

John, 116. 

Oliver, 102. 
Ward, Artemas, 20. 

Daniel, 129, 169. 

Eleazer, 179. 

John, 76, 148. 

Nahum, 17, 19, 20, 23. 27. 29, 
45. 50. 57. 61, 63, 68. 73, 78, 
84, 90, 99, loi, 103. 105, 109. 
no, 113, n5, 117, 124. 128. 

131, 135. 137. 145. i5o> i53> 
161, 163, 172. 178. 

Richard. 30. 

Samuel. 46, 50, 61, 68, 145. 

Thomas, 142. 143. 146. 

William. 17-19, 23. 26. 29, 33, 

45' 50. 52, 57. 61. 68. 72. 78, 



82, 84, 86, 90, 93, 99, 105, 
115, 117. 124, 128, 135, 137, 

145' 150, 153, 163, 172, 178. 
Warden, Mary, 52. 
Warfield, Eliphalet, 109. 
Warner. Elizabeth, 182. 
Warren, Benjamin, 124. 

Daniel, 100, 105, 115, n7. 
Weights and Measures, negled to 

provide, 35. 
Well for the prison, 147. 
Westborough, 59, 94, 119, 139, 164. 
Wheat, Elizabeth, -182. 

Joshua, 132, 1S2. 
Wheeler, Benjamin, 38, 159. 
Hannah, 158. 
Hezekiah, 112. 
Jonathan, 36. 
Joss, 158. 
Richard, 43, 79. 
Whipple, Jacob, 76. 

James, 151. 153. 163, 172. 178. 
White, Josiah. 100. 105, 115. 117, 

124. 
Whitney, Benjamin, 37. 
Whittemore, John. 82, 179. 

Nathaniel, 148. 
Wicker, George. 62. 
Wilder, Ebenezer. 23, 45. 
Ephraim. ^^. 138. 143. 
James, 105. 115, 117, 124, 128, 

150, 153, 163. 
Joseph. 17-19, 23. 26. 29, ^T,. 37, 
38, 45, 50. 52, 54. 57. 58, 61, 
65, 68, 78, 84, 90, 99, 105. 115, 
117, 124. 128, 133, 135, 137, 
145, 150. 152. 153. 163, 172, 
178. 182. 
Oliver, 106. 
Rachel, 79. 
Wilds, Richard, 60, 115. 117. 124, 
128, 131, 137. 145, 150, 163, 
172. 1 78. 



General Index. 



197 



Willard, Aaron and Abigail, 132. 
Benjamin, 17, 19, 20. 
Capt., 113. 

Joseph, 130, 160, 162. 
Josiah, 17, 19, 23, zz, 45, 50, 78, 

105, 113. 153, 161, 180. 
Samuel, 99, 105, 113, 115, 128- 
130. I35i 137, 153. 160, 161, 
178. 
Wilson, John, 104. 

Mary. 155. 
Wisdom, Henry, 175, 177. 
Witherbee, Caleb, 113, 129, 130, 161 

Ephraim. 129, 130, 1 61. 
Wood, Ezekiel and Solomon, 113, 

130, 161. 
Woods, John, 23, 11, 45. 

Samuel, 76, 81. 
Woodstock, 31, 59, 86, 94, 119, 139, 
164. 



Wooly, James, 176. 

Worcester, 35, 42, 59, 75, 82, 94, 

104, 119, 139, 164, 166, 178, 

182. 
County, 10-13. 
Worship, Public, negleft to attend, 

penalty, 44; cases, 36-39, 79, 

80, 85. 93, 103, 109, 140, 142, 

146, 155, 159, 166, 167, 171, 

174, 175, 181-183. 
Wright, James, 151, 153, 172, 178. 
Joseph, 23, 105, 113, 115, 117, 

124, 128, 129, 150, 153, 160, 

163. 
Samuel, 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 29, 

45,48, 50, 61, 68, 78, 82, 90, 

92, 105, 124, 128, 145, 178. 

Y 

Young, David, 137, 138. 



No. XIX. 



PROCEEDINGS 



?:iOFTHEg^ 



MorrpxtFP HoriFtg of ^ntiijDitg, 



For The Year 



1§§2. 




WOKCKSTEP., MASS. : 

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. 

1883. 
U. S. A. CVII. 



PROCEEDINGS 



►^OFTHE(^ 



ttpfFS^FF Soriptg of ^ntiijnitg, 



For The Year 



18§2. 




WOUCESTEU, MASS. : 

PUBLISHED 15Y THE SOCIETY. 

1883. 

U. S. A. CYII. 



WORCESTER : 

PEE8S OF CLARK JILL80N. 
MDCCCLXXXni. 



OFFICERS FOR 1883. 



PRESIDENT. 

ELLERY BICKNELL CRANE. 



VICE-PRESIDENTS, 

ALBERT TOLMAN, GEORGE SUMNER. 



SECRETARY, 

HENRY LORISTON SHUMWAY. 



TREASURER, 



HENRY FRANCIS STEDMAN. 



LIBRARIAN, 

THOMAS A. DICKINSON. 



Departments of Work. 

ARCHAEOLOGY AND GENERAL HISTORY. 
CHARLES R. JOHNSON, Chairman. 



AYilliam H. Bartlett, 
Thoma.s A. Dickinson, 
John W, Ihif^ham, 
Henry E. Stedman, 
James L. Estey, 
William L. Clark, 
Eben F. Thompson, 
EUery B. Crane, 
John G, Brady, 
Everett C. Stone, 

LOCAL 



pjdward B. Glasgow, 
William T. Harlow, 
A. IL tJoolidge, 
C. Otis Goodwin, 
Francis T. Blaekmer, 
Alfred Waites, 
Charles F. \Yashburn, 
Samuel E. Staples, 
Franklin P. Rice, 



Theodore C. Bates, 
Reuben Colton, 
H. ^V.Hubburd, 
Thomas Stanstield, 
F. E. Lancaster, 
E. H. Thompson, 
Sullivan Forehand, 
Henry P. Upham, 
Henry King, 



HISTORY AND GENEALOGY. 



HENRY M. SMITH, Chairman. 



Alfred S. Roe, 
Harvey B. Wilder, 
Franklin P. Rice, 
Clark Jillson, 
EUery B. Crane, 
Daniel Seagrave, 
Albert A. Lovoll, 
George A. Jordan, 
E. H. Marshall, 
Ephraim Tucker, 

ANCIENT IklANUSCRIPTS, PUBLICATIONS AND ENGRAVINGS. 



Frank E. Blake, 
J. Chauncey Lyford, 
C. Otis Goodwin, 
Ledyard Bill, 
Samuel E. Staples, 
Charles A. Chase, 
James A. Smith, 
E, R, Lawrence, 
Benjamin J. Dodge, 



William T. Harlow, 
Augustus B. R. Spraguc, 
Nathaniel I'aine, 
Albert Tyler, 
Manning Leonard, 
Henry P. Upham, 
Herbert Wesby, 
Charles A. Denny, 
Charles B. Knight. 



William B. Harding, 
Albert Tyler, 
Augustus Coolidge, 
Merrick Bemis, 
Samuel E. Staples, 
Charles C. Baldwin, 
Albert Tolman, 
Edward I. Comins, 



CLARK JILLSON, Chairman. 

Theodore S. Johnson, John Cort, 



(ieorge Sumner, 
Albert P. Marble, 
Josiah Pickett, 
Charles B. Whiting, 
Charles W. Estabrook, 
Nathaniel Paine, 
Augustus E. Peck, 



Henry L. Shumway, 
\Villiam A. Smith, 
Reuben Colton. 
Charles W. Fenno, 
Addison Prentiss, 
Alfred ^^'aites, 



RELICS, COINS, AND CURIOSITIES. 
SAMUEL E. STAPLES. Chairman. 



Henry Phelps, 
Richard O'Flynn, 
William B. Howe, 
George Sumner, 
Franklin C. Jillson, 
Olin L, Merriam, 
Frederick G. Stiles. 



Edwin Ames, 
Jerome Wheelock, 
Abram K. Gould, 
Henry King, 
Augustus Stone, 
Edgar W. Warren, 
Norton L, Cook, 



Frank J. Kinney, 
George E. Boydcn, 
Pardon A. liCc, 
Albert G. Mann, 
Charles F. Rugg, 
George F. Thompson, 



MILITARY HISTORY. 

AUGUSTUS B. R. SPRAGUE, Chairman. 

Josiah Pickett, William T. Harlow, Edward T. Raynond, 

Alfreb S, Roe, Albert Wood, Frederick (i. Stiles, 

Augustus Stone. Edward U. Lawrence, George F. 'J'hompson, 

William H. Bartlett, Norton L. Cook, William B. Harding. 



COMMITTEES FOE 1883. 



EX1<:CUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



ELLERY B. CRANE, GEORGE SUMNER, 
ALBERT TOLMAN, HENRY L. SHUMWAY, 
HENRY F. STEDMAN. 



STANDING COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS. 

EDWARD R. LAWRENCE, for 1 year; 
DANIEL SEAGRAVE, for 2 years; 
WILLIAM H. BARTLETT, for 3 years. 



committee ON biography. 



HENRY L. SHUMWAY, ALBERT TYLER, 

ALFRED S. ROE. 



committee on PUBLICATION. 

ELLERY B. CRANE, ALBERT TOLMAN, 

GEORGE SUMNER, HENRY L. SHUMWAY, 

HENRY F. STEDMAN. 



i^ijT)i<idS¥ioX;0 05^ "j^^t ^oCiJ^il'Y 



No. I. Proceedings, 1875-1877. (pp. 70.) 

No. II. Constitution and list of officers. (Comprised in 

No. I.) 

No. III. Proceedings for 1877, with Inscriptions from Old 

Burial Grounds in Worcester, (pp. 168.) 

No. IV. Inscriptions from Old Burial Grounds in Worces- 

ter. (Comprised in No. III.) 

Proceedings for 1878. (pp. 150.) 

Early Records of the town of Worcester, Book I., 
1722-1739. (pp. 142.) 

Proceedings for 1879. (pp, 150.) 

Early Records of the town of Worcester, Book II., 
1739-1753. (pp. 145.) 

Nos. IX. to XII., inclusive, Records of the Proprietors of AVor- 
cester, 1667 to 1788, with 300 plans, (pp. 336.) 

No. XIII. Proceedings for 1880. (pp. 80.) 

Nos. XIV. to XVI., inclusive, Worcester Town Records from 
1753 to 1783. (pp. 472.) 

No. XVII. Proceedings for 1881. (pp. 164.) 

No. XVIII. Records of the Court of General Sessions of the 
Peace, for the County of Worcester, 1731-1737. 
(pp. 197.) 

No. XIX. Proceedings for 1882. (pp. 160.) 



No. 


V. 


No. 


VI. 


No. 


VII. 


No. 


VIII. 



1^ Nos. I. to XIX. are arranged to form five volumes under 
the name of Collections. A pamphlet containing Title Pages, 
Indexes and directions for binding the first three volumes will 
be furnished by the Librarian. Nos. XIV. XV. & XVI., form 
Volume IV. Nos. XVII. XVIII. & XIX, form Volume V. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



THE portrait of George Chandler M. D., of Worcester, 
which embellishes this number of our Proceedings, presents 
the features of a valued friend, — one who by his own researches 
and labors in editing and publishing the record of the Chandler 
Family, has demonstrated his right to an honored place in the 
guild of antiquaries. — Ed. 




PROCEEDINGS 



For 1882. 






%(?}^i^ 



§Soif JIE first regrular meeting; of The Worcester 

I I I Society of Aiitifjiiity for the year was held on 

isoli the evening of Jan. 3d, at the rooms of the 

Society. Hon. Henry P. Upham of St. Paul, Minn., 

a native of Worcester, Henry King Esq., of North 

Brookfield, Hon. George F. Thompson and Mr. J. 

Chauncey Lyford of Worcester, were elected active 

members of the Society. President Crane addressed 

the Society as follows: — 

ADDRESS. 



By ELLERY B. CRANE. 



Members of The Worcester Society of Antiqtdty, Gentlemen: — 

In compliance with a custom established by my predecessors, 
let me, as we stand at the threshold of this bright new year, 
call your attention to the progress made during the last twelve 
months. First of all, however, I desire to express to you my 



10 

grateful acknowledgments for the honor you have conferred in 
selecting me as your presiding officer for this the second time. 
My earnest wish is, that I may bring to the ollice that abund- 
ance of time and talent which it so well deserves. But let me 
assure you that whatever of these needful qualities I may pos- 
sess, they shall be used to further the best interests of this 
Society ; and I enter upon the duties and responsibilities of the 
office relj-ing chiefly upon 3'our unfailing stock of charity which 
has attended me so constantly throughout the year that has 
closed, trusting that the future term may fail to develop the 
slightest element of discord, and that our relations in the future 
may prove as pleasant as those in the past have been. 

To satisfy ourselves that we have made progress during the 
past year, we have but to refer to the flattering reports from 
our Librarian, Treasurer, and the several Departments of Work. 
While we show a falling off" in the accumulation of pamplilets, 
there have been added nearly double the number of bound vol- 
umes to our rapidly increasing library. Members of Depart- 
ments of Work continue to display an interest and zeal that 
cannot be mistaken, and the number of our printed pages will 
far exceed that of any previous 3ear. These include Vol. III., 
Records of the Proprietors of Worcester, from the year 1GG7 to 
1788, with nearly 300 illustrations describing the lots of land 
granted to the early settlers, and Vol. IV. comprising Worcester 
Town Records, from 1753 to 1783, which will soon be ready for 
distribution. These two volumes together with our Proceed- 
ings for the 3'ear 1881, which is soon to be placed at 3'our dis- 
posal, are eflTorts worth}' of this organization, and of whicli, as 
the result of our labor, we have ever}- reason to be proud. 

But it is entirel}' unnecessary for me to particularize or hold 
up to view the many laudable accomplishments of this active 
and prosperous Societ}-. Any person conversant with the his- 
tory of the origin, growth and development, of other societies 
with objects kindred to our own can draw his own inference, 
and I trust that the final conclusion will not be detrimental or 
disparaging to the well deserved reputation of The Worcester 
Society of Antiquity. We have here prepared the plans and 
laid the foundation for a substantial and magnificent structure, 



11 

one tliJit we hope nia3' grow into favor among tlie popular insti- 
tutions of this populous city. While we arc young and full of 
courage let us in the future, as we have in the past, be ready 
for any emergenc}', willing to respond to any and all demands 
for the welfare and prosperit}' of this organization. 

For the present we have ample space for our Library as well 
as our collection of curiosities, so that there can be no occasion 
to increase our expenses bv the addition of more room for some 
time to come. What the Soclet}' stands most in need of at this 
time is a Publishing Fund. We already have numerous val- 
uable manuscripts on our shelves which for the want of money 
we are unable to print. But if we had a fund, say to the amount 
of i$10,()00, deposited in some safe investment where we could 
use only the income for the purpose of printing such records 
and documents as the Executive Committee might in their wis- 
dom think best to publish, it would assist in adding much to 
our stock of publications and give us a far greater advantage 
for usefulness than we now enjoy. With the object of making 
an effort to obtain such a fund, or the nucleus for it, a commit- 
tee was appointed, not long since, with power to act. After 
several meetings for consultation, that committee authorized 
the printing of a circular askiiig for contributions to a perma- 
nent fund, the income of which should only be used to carry 
forward the main objects for which this Society was instituted. 
These circulars have been mailed to certain individuals who it 
was thought would most likely be interested and respond to 
such an appeal. It is perhaps, at present, too early to look 
for returns from them, but it is hoped that sooner or later some- 
thing worthy the attempt may come from it. Such a fund would 
add vastly to the usefulness of our Society, and greatly encour- 
age the prosecution of preserving and perpetuating matters of 
historical interest. P^very year, in making up our Proceedings, 
the Committee on Publication has been compelled to put aside 
many interesting and valuable essays that have been read before 
the Society, through fear of overtaxing the generosity of our 
members by the expense of printing them. It is hoped that 
these papers may be published at some future time. 



12 

History at this time, more than ever before, commands the 
worthy attention of all chisses of people. The circle of its stu- 
dious admirers has been ever steadily expanding with the growth 
of knowledge until to-day there is felt among the inhabitants of 
nearly every town, however small, a pressing need for the es- 
tablishment of a society of some kind in which they may cul- 
tivate and develop their love for historical studies. Certainlv 
no large city can well afford to be without such an institution. 
There always will be found many persons willing to aid in sup- 
porting them, while from such sources the}' can obtain food for 
the mind, and experience pleasure in acquiring knowledge. 

The study of antiquity has such a unique fascination that as 
time rolls on it must draw the attention of almost every con- 
siderate and thoughtful reader. In truth man lives more in the 
past, or from what he knows of it, than he does in the present. 
We take our daih' lessons from the records of the achievements 
of those who have gone before, and if we are wise we shall heed 
and profit by their experience. The history of the past guides 
and shapes the present and encourages us to hope for the future. 
Whenever men or nations are unwilling to heed the teachings of 
antiquity they sooner or later find themselves groping in the 
dark or drifting without chart or compass, liable to crash upon 
the sunken rocks of political errors or founder in the first storm 
of political controvers}- ; and it should be our pleasure, as I know 
it is, as well as our duty to transmit to our successors what we 
can towards making up the priceless legacy of history ; and how- 
ever small or insignificant it ma}' appear to ourselves or to those 
around us, let us perform our little part in the world's great 
workshop. Those who consciously or unconsciously cast their 
satire and raillery at the antiquarian, and accuse him of living to 
no purpose, listlessh' absorbed with the musty worm-eaten 
pages of ages that have gone, or digging among dead men's 
bones, little know or realize the untold influence which the result 
of such researches has upon the present and upon the great 
world about them. The discoveries of Bousard, Rawlinson, 
Lepsius, Layard, Mariette Bey, Di Cesnola, Schliemann and oth- 
ers, have cast vivid light upon the life and customs of ancient 
peoples of the east, reviving and creating a new and deeper 



- 13 

interest in their scanty and unsatisfactory chronological history. 

This new year (1S^!2) (inds several changes in our ollicial 
board. It is to be expected in an organization where all its 
oflicers are subject to an annual election, that such changes are 
liable to come with each recurring year. Thus far since the 
formation of this Society, March 2d, 1875, there have been 
successively, three ditferent executive oflicers, two Secretaries, 
two Treasurers, and two Librarians. Mr. James A. Smith, 
who has so faithfully and acceptably filled the oflice of Treasurer 
during the past six years, felt compelled, owing to the pressure 
of other urgent business, to decline his re-election, I regret 
exceedingly that the Society is thus to be deprived of his very 
valuable services, We also regret that Mr. Albert A. Lovell, 
w^ho has filled for the past four years the important oflice of 
Librarian so acceptably and displayed such signal skill and abili- 
ty for the position, was also obliged under the press of other 
duties to decline to be a candidate for re-election. 

We sincerely hope and trust that we may continue to receive 
their hearty cooperation, while we in return extend to them our 
word of appreciation for their exceedingly valuable and unself- 
ish services rendered during so many of the trying years of this 
young organization. 



Dr. George Chandler of Worcester presented a 
a pair of metallic "Tractors" designed for the re- 
moval of pain from any locality in the human body, 
by the development of an electric current, the inven- 
tion of Dr. Elisha Perkins of Plainfield Conn., 1741- 
1797, with a brief sketch of the inventor. 

Hon. Clark Jillson announced the death of our 
colleague, Thomas Melvin Lamb, which occurred 
Dec. 29, 1881, with a touching and appreciative 
tribute to his character, and resolutions expressing 



14 

the appreciation of the character of the deceased by 
the Society, and its sympathy with his bereaved 
family. These were seconded by Mr. S. E. Staples, 
adopted, and by direction of the Society a copy 
thereof was forwarded to his family. Subsequently 
Hon. Clark Jillson was requested to prepare a sketch 
of the life and character of the deceased, for publi- 
cation in these Proceedings. 

THOMAS MELVIN LAMB. 



By CLAEK jillson. 



IT is not my purpose to write an elaborate sketch, nor is it 
possible, even briefl}', to delineate many of the notable charac- 
teristics belonging exclusivel}' to one whose individuality was 
more clearly defined, both in its general scope and in its minute- 
ness, than that of any other person with whom I have had the 
honor of an acquaintance. lam also sensible of my inability to 
centri>lize and impress upon the minds of others a picture so 
definitely outlined as to suggest the actual presence of the origi- 
nal, for the reason that the qualities of which I speak and their 
peculiar combinations belonged to but one man. 

Competition, not only in business but in mental effort, is so 
sharp and obtrusive, so heedless of conscientious regard or 
respectful toleration that whoever, b}' virtuous effort, is strong- 
enough to establish a recognized identity among mankind, de- 
serves to be gratefully remembered. The poor bo}' who wins 
in life's uncertain struggle, being sole commander of his own 
mental and moral forces and general commissary of subsistence 
at the same time, may appropriately be classed among the 
heroes of civil achievement. If he reaches the period of middle 
age without dishonor, even though he may bear the scars of 
many an unequal conflict, his title to public approval is well 
assured. 




...y^^^^^ ^,^^^^^^ 



15 

Thomas Mclvin Lamb was born at Worcester Mass., on the 
2Gth da}' of June, 1S30, in a small farm-house then standing 
upon the southerly side of Jo Bill road, near the residence of 
Hon. Stephen Salisbury. His ancestors were among the early 
settlers of Worcester County, in some instances being original 
proprietors of large tracts of land. He inherited from his moth- 
er a delicate constitution, a keen intellect and an uncompromi- 
sing regard for honesty and integrity ; from his father stability 
of purpose and sound judgment. His early education was 
acquired at the district school, where his attendance was some- 
what irregular on account of ill health and the frequent need of 
his services at home. It was fortunate, however, that he pos- 
sessed a mind so comprehensive in its grasp, so susceptible to 
the unseen influence of natural progression as to render the 
study of books simply an indication of something broader and 
higlier, directly in the pathway of his ambition. What others 
sought through the channels of unremitting toil, he comprehended 
at a glance ; and while they were trying to make themselves fa- 
miliar with mere outlines he became master of the whole subject. 

He entered the High School in May, 1846, and the record 
shows that he-was in school four terms in all, but not a regular 
attendant. He studied the higher English branches, omitting 
the languages, and never graduated. This was before the 
Eucleia Debating Society had been organized, but the scholars 
frequently met in debate, and it was there that young Lamb 
first exhibited his talent as a speaker of more than ordinary 
merit. At that time he was considered a formidable opponent 
in debate, and his services were alwa3-s in demand, being fre- 
quently sought to aid both sides. 

About this time a number of young gentlemen, feeling the 
need of better facilities for niiprovement in public speaking, 
organized the Young Men's Rhetorical Society, "for the mental 
and moral improvement of its members." Mr. Lamb became 
a member, and was one of the first to distinguish himself as a 
clear and logical debater. He held that there were two sides 
to all questions, and his voice was never silenced by appointing 
him on the wrong side. He conducted a paper published by the 
society wherein he first displayed his ability as a writer ; and 



16 

many of his productions of that earlj' da}' clearly indicated a 
comprehensive knowledge of English composition. December 
31st, 1850, he was elected President of the Society. As a pre- 
siding officer he was calm, dignified, and accurate in his decis- 
ions, winning favor on all sides by his gentlemanly bearing, and 
acute perception and comprehension of delicate points in par- 
liamentary practice. His administration brought success to the 
Society, and his own popularit}' was greatly enhanced b}- the 
impartial manner in which he discharged the duties of his office. 

Before the close of his school-life he began to express a desire 
for some permanent employment. His father was a farmer, 
but that business was not congenial to the son. After full con- 
sideration he expressed a desire to follow the occupation of a 
watchmaker and jeweller, and in due time was permitted by his 
parents to enter the store of S. P. Champney for the purpose of 
learning the trade. To this business he applied his time and 
energy, with a full determination to make it a life-work, em- 
ploying his leisure hours in study instead of recreation. It was 
customar}' at that time for young men, after serving a short 
time as apprentices, to leave their employers and assume to 
understand the whole business, representing themselves as ex- 
perienced workmen. Mr. Lamb was not one of that kind. He 
was faithful in every particular, and when his apprenticeship 
closed Mr. Champney was glad to give him further employment. 

On the 13th da^- of Feb., 1856, Mr. Champney advertised his 
business for sale ; and on the 29th of the same month Mr. Lamb 
called public attention to his new establishment at 275 Main 
Street, within a few feet of where he learned his trade, and 
where he continued in business till the time of his death. In 
trade Mr. Lamb was strikingly unselfish, and his failure to use 
the ordinar}' methods to mislead buyers had a tendency to retard 
his financial success. If he ever learned the lesson that most 
people like to be cheated and are generalh- willing to pay the 
swindler for his services, he was so stubborn in the interest of 
fair dealing that he never adopted the code ; nor did he allow 
any person in his employ to misrepresent or take any measures 
to defraud his customers. His goods were oflfered for sale at 
reasonable rates, and buyers were allowed to select such as thev 



17 

desired, without being urged to buy through any of the "dainty 
devices" so commonly resorted to by smart traders. I was 
present on one occasion when a lady selected a finger ring from 
a large stock as being precisely what she desired to purchase. 
She was looking for pure gold, and when she made known her 
wish to obtain the object of her deliberate choice, Mr. Lamb 
had to use considerable ettbrt to make her believe that she had 
chosen a cheap article, not worth half what she was willing to 
pay for it ; but Mr, Lamb would tolerate no deception, nor could 
he be tempted or compelled to sell his soul for gain. 

Mr. Lamb was married in 1860 to Miss Laura A. Stebbins of 
Deerfield, Mass., an accomplished lady, a devoted wife and a 
faithful mother. Their oldest daughter, Carrie S., was born in 
Worcester, June 28, 18G2, and graduated at the High School in 
1881, an excellent scholar and a young lady of rare promise. 
Alice B. was born May 10, 1868, and died March 23, 1876. She 
was not physically strong, but her mind was active and preco- 
cious, and she readily became a favorite of all who knew her. 
Her death was keenly felt by a large circle of friends outside 
her own family. 

Mr. Lamb manifested an unusual interest in religious affairs 
at an earl}- age, becoming identified with the Baptist denomina- 
tion and subsequently joined the church, where he was very act- 
ive in the Sabbath school. Later in life he embraced a more 
liberal faith, discarding all sectarianism and ever}^ form of wor- 
ship as unessential to the salvation of souls ; but his trust 
in the Supreme Ruler of the universe was never disturbed. His 
change in reliafious sentiment and belief was mainlv due to the 
inability of his teachers to satisfactorily answer his interrogato- 
ries. Any theory or proposition that did not commend itself 
to his judgment, after full explanation, in such a manner as to 
meet all his objections, would not be likely to form any part of 
his creed. Whenever a weak man assumes to be a spiritual 
teacher, calling upon those of superior intellect and culture to 
embrace a religious doctrine, without being able to defend 
it, he unconsciously becomes an active propagator of infidelity. 
When the blind undertake to lead those who can see, or the 
weak to control and direct the strong, no time need be wasted 



18 

in praying for success. If religion is based upon reason and 
conscience, rather than emotion, Mr. Lamb took no rasli or 
unpremeditated step when he left the Baptist church, even if he 
was wrong in so doing. Those who knew him best will certify 
that he was quick to embrace what his reason and conscience 
clearly indicated to be the fittest ; but a failure to sustain by 
intelligent argument any doctrine new to him was perhaps too 
often construed as against the theory' instead of against the im- 
becile who tried to become its advocate. He was conscientious 
to his own pecuniar}' disadvantage, never swerviiig from what he 
knew to be exact justice. He was never accused of a dishonest 
act by an honest person, and his integritj- was never questioned 
in the community where he lived. 

He was elected by his fellow citizens to offices of trust, and 
his official duties were discharged with rare fidelity. His three 
years' service as a member of the School Committee was charac- 
terized by faithfulness and energy, and his influence in that 
Board was felt long after his term had expired. As one of the 
Board of Trustees of the Worcester County Mechanics' Associa- 
tion, he was an active member of the Libi'ary Committee wherein 
he did much to raise the standard of excellence in that depart- 
ment, by retiring books of fiction and supplying standard works 
relating to art, science and literature, and from that day to 
this the policy' he advocated has been respected b\- the Associa- 
tion. His mind, when directed to public atfairs, was free from 
partizan bias, and he recognized no power strong enough to 
turn his steps from the path of duty. He was a true man, an 
unfaltering friend, a loyal citizen. 

As a member of The Worcester Society of Antiquit}-, he was 
deeply interested in its work, and was careful to preserve all its 
Proceedings, arranging them for the bindery but a short time 
before his death. 

He was a member of the Masonic Order, and for several years 
devoted much time to the welfare of that ancient institution. 
He was made a Master Mason in Morning Star Lodge, at Wor- 
cester, Nov. 1, 1859, and was Secretary of the lodge for several 
3'ears. He was exalted to the august and sublime degree of a 
Royal Arch Mason in Worcester Chapter, April 8, 1804 ; and 



19 

on the 27th of October of the same year he received the Cryptic 
degrees in liiram Council of Royal and Select Masters. He was 
created and dubbed a Knight Templar in Worcester County 
Commandery, Knights Templars, at Worcester, April 21, 18G5. 
October 31, 18G7, he received the degrees of the Ancient and 
Accepted Scottish Rite, from the 4" to the 14°, in Worcester 
Lodge of Perfection. 

He received the degrees of the Order of the Eastern Star from 
Past Grand Patron, Daniel Seagrave, in September, 1869, and 
atliliated with Stella Chapter, No. 3, at Worcester, when that 
Chapter was organized in 1871. He was elected Worthy Pat- 
ron, December 13, 187G, and continued in office four years. 
He was elected Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of the 
Order of the Eastern Star for Massachusetts, at its organiza- 
tion, Dec. 11, 187G, and held the office till May 13, 1879. He 
was elected Grand Patron, May 13, 1878, and continued in 
office two years. He was elected Most Worthy Grand Patron 
of the General Grand Chapter of the order. May 10, 1878, and 
held the office till Aug. 20, 1880. He was chairman of the 
committee appointed to arrange and publish the Ritual of the 
Order, and that document shows how well his work was done. 
He was appointed Secretary of Eoreign Correspondence by the 
Grand Chapter of Massachusetts for the year 1879, and re-ap- 
pointed May 10, 1.S81. He was elected a life member of Stella 
Chapter, Jan. 26, 1880. His correspondence with the various 
masonic bodies and individuals, relating to Masonry and mat- 
ters pertaining thereto, would make a large volume of useful and 
interesting matter, full of original thought. 

Such has been the career of one whose life and conduct may 
well be emulated by us. His courage, his ability, his sincerity, 
his incorruptible moral nature and his persistent adherence to 
the strictest rules of justice and right, were prominent charac- 
teristics of his life. His death occurred at his home in this city, 
Dec. 29, 1881, after an illness of five days. The community 
was shocked at the announcement of his death — so sudden and 
unexpected— and the character of the large assembly gathered 
in the church to observe his funeral rites, bore unmistakable 
testimony to his worth as citizen. 



20 

It may be said that Mr, Lamb's life was not satisfactor}'. 
In a pecuniary sense this is true ; but it must be acbnitted that he 
achieved the most complete success in living an honest life, and 
when death came he was fully prepared to approach the grave, 

"Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch 
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." 

He was one of the few men who never assumed a false posi- 
tion for gain ; nor could he be pursuaded by sophistr}- or logic, 
or compelled by any human authority, to forget or surrender 
the title Nature gave him to the highest type of manhood. 



Mr. Alfred Waites read the following interesting 
paper, a copy of which was requested for publication: 

THE AGE OF CHIVALRY. 



By ALFRED WAITES. 



I have selected this subject because, as far as my observation 
goes, it is one that is greatly misunderstood. Scarcely any one 
ever speaks of this age who does not seem to be under the influ- 
ence of false ideas, bewildered as it were, b}- the glitter of 
knights in armor, and the shock of lances in tournament. 
Even the terms which are used to designate the human beings, 
and the qualities they posseesed, are as much misunderstood as 
the age itself. What do 3'ou mean by the word "villain?" yet 
the notion of wickedness and worthlessuess which we attach to it 
is the effect of aristocratic pride and exclusiveness, and not, as 
Christian says in his notes on Blackstone, "A proof of the horror 
in which our fathers held all service to feudal lords."* "Villain," 
simply meant one attached to a villa, oi- farm, and a collection 
of the dwellings of these "villains," was a village. The words 
"knightly" and "chivalrous," I shall leave for your considera- 
tion while we hurry forward to the examination of these chival- 

* Diet, of phrase and fable, p. 93G. 



21 



lie days, lie who endeavors to discover the origin and prog- 
ress of eliivalr}-, says vSismondi,* meets witli dillleulties of every 
kind. He linds himself on the borders of reality and fiction, 
sometimes deceived by poets and romancers, and sometimes 
misled by incapable chroniclers. 

The romance of chivalry, in French and in Latin, the fables 
of Archbishop Turpin, the brilliant stories of the Court of Char- 
lemagne inserted in the Chronicles of St. Denis, had become, 
from the eleventh century, the habitual reading of those who 
occupied themselves with arms and love ; it was their only in- 
struction, the only example which they cared to follow : and 
the book which was designed to be the pastime of a winter eve- 
ning, became a rule of conduct. He who wishes to disentangle 
fiction from reality, runs the risk of being deceived by the po- 
etic sentiment which is within himself ; because he finds the 
generous emotions of virtue and of nobility of soul so little satis- 
fied by the men of history, he ends by adopting the heroes of 
romance.* 

The Order of Chivalry was a religious and military engage- 
ment. The Chevalier devoted himself "to God and the ladies." 
The candidate had first to take a bath, which was to signify 
that he presented himself cleansed from sin. He was then 
clothed with a white tunic, with a robe of vermillion, and a coat 
of black. These colors represented the purity of his future life, 
the blood which it was his duty to shed for the church, the death 
which he ought always to have in remembrance. The sash was 
to typify his engagement to live from that time forward in chas- 
tity. The spurs were gilt, and signified that he should fly with 
rapidity wherever duty called him. He who bound on the 
sword, had recommended to him uprightness and loyalty, the 
defense of the poor against the rich, and to sustain the weak 
ai^ainst the strons. In order that the novice should remember 
these things, he was struck upon the neck with a sword, or 
given a box on the ear. (colaphus). In the same way when a 
great lord accorded a charter, he gave a box on the ear to 
the witness, of however high rank, so that the memory of the 



* Ilistoire des Francais III. 2. 



22 

transaction should not escape him. And here, I may state, we 
find the origin of another custom, and find oddly enough, that 
the strilving on the neck or shoulder, in the ceremony of knight- 
hood, and the whipping of the boys in "beating the boundaries," 
as narrated by Henzel,* Pepys,t and others, are identical in 
their source, and the knight was struck as the boy was whipped 
that the lesson imparted might not be forgotten. Jhe chevalier 
was required by his vow to remove from any place in which 
there was treason or false judgment, if he were not strong 
enough to prevent it ; to aid with all his power the ladies and 
damsels ; to fast every Friday ; and to make an offering every 
day at mass. Thus we see the priests did not forget themselves 
when the}' took part in the institution of chivalry. J 

It would, however, be unjust to think so unworthily of the 
church as to compare her with this institution ; her doors were 
open to the poor as well as to the rich ; the humblest might 
enter her service and wield a power greater than that of any 
earthly king ; might ascend the throne of Peter, assume the 
triple crown, and swa}' the destinies of the world. But the 
order of chivalry was accorded only to men of noble blood. 
An insurmountable barrier was raised which separated the 
chevalier from the villain, and which the latter could never hope 
to cross. Courage and virtue, as well as happiness and liberty, 
were considered the exclusive prerogative of noble blood : the 
great mass of mankind were actually thought unworthy of being 
considered a portion of the human race. J The peasantry in- 
deed were placed upon a level with vermin, and hunted much 
in the same way. The nobles had a saying, "Stroke the clown, 
he will pummel you ; pummel the clown, he will stroke you." 

The vocation of the knights of the fourteenth century was to 
crush the weak. The D'Aubricicourt robbed and killed at ran- 
dom, to deserve well of his lad}' ; for says the chronicler "He 
was desperately in love."§ 



* Mensel, Geschichte der Deutschen, I. 52. t Pepys' Diary I. 188, (May 
23, 1G61.) X Sismondi, III. 6. § Michelet Hist. France, I. 446. 







3 



The terror of the peasants of France, at this time, (1358) was 
so extreme that, says Michelet,* they no longer slept ; they who 
lived on the banks of the Loire, passed whole nights on the is- 
lands, or in boats moored iu the middle of the stream. In Pic- 
ardy the atfrighted inhabitants dug hiding places for themselves 
in the ground. Here families huddled together on the approach 
of an enemy ; and here the women and children wasted away 
for whole weeks and months, while the husbands and fathers 
timidly stole to the church steeple to see if the men of war had 
left the country. They did not always leave it soon enough for 
the_ poor inhabitants to sow and gather iu the harvest. In vain 
did they hide themselves under ground ; famine reached them 
there. In the brie and the beauvoisis above all, the whole land 
was left bare. Everything was spoiled or destro^'ed. Food 
was to be had in castles alone. t Can we wonder that some of 
the peasants dared to retaliate? They did, with the vengeance 
of despair. They even dared to attack some of the castles, and 
cut the throats of the barons. Then the great and noble were 
aroused ; they had never dreamed of sucli a height of daring. 
Charles the Bad flattered the leaders of the revolt till they were 
in his power, and then treacherously put them to the sword. 
The principal was crowned with a red-hot tripod. In all di- 
rections the nobles massacred the peasantry, without enquiring 
or carino- whether they had a share in the revolt or not ; and, 
says a contemporary, they wrought so much evil in the country 
there was no need of the English coming to destroy the king- 
dom ; they never could have done the mischief that the barons 
did. The chevaliers hanged the poor wretches in troops to the 
nearest trees ; the king of Navarre, in one day, strung up three 
thousand. The peasants, informed that food and treasure were 
to be found in the city of Meaux, flocked thither in crowds, 
many of them unarmed, and attempted to capture the city. 
Then the nobles sallied forth cased in armor from head to foot, 
and thus equipped, smote the defenseless rustics with complete 
impunity. They rushed upon them, cut them down, and flung 
them in great heaps into the river ; in short, killed upwards of 



* Hist. France, II. 447. t Michelet, I. 447. 



24 

seven thonsaud of them. Some escaped for a time; but the 
barons had not done with them ; they formed hunting parties 
and scoured the country round to catch the peasants ; they 
drove the hunted, frightened creatures into the town of Meaux ; 
shut the gate to preclude the possibility of escape ; and then, 
burned up the city.* 

Edward, the "Black I^rince," has again and again been lauded 
as the mirror of knighthood and of chivalr}'. As he was return- 
ing from Spain, where his military prowess had been exerted to 
the utmost, to replace Peter the cruel upon the throne of Castile, 
from which the avengers of his crimes had driven him, this 
gallant Edward was informed that war had been resumed with 
France, and that his services were needed there. He according- 
ly proceeded thither, laid siege to the town of Limoges, whose 
inhabitants fought with a bravery which should have gained for 
them the sympathy of a conqueror ; but in these chivalric days, 
bravery, except in a brother knight, bravery displayed b}' the 
canaille^ was treated as a crime, and the exhibition of valor on 
the part of the people was invariably punished by the direst 
cruelty. The "Black Prince" was at this time near his death. 
He could not ride on horseback, and was borne into the town 
in a litter, that he might personally superintend the accomplish-' 
ment of the vengeance he meditated. He gave orders that 
every inhabitant of that town, every man, woman, and child, 
should be put to death. In this "mirror of chivalry," tottering 
age, defenseless womanhood, found no protector ; the people 
rushed into his presence and little children raised their little 
hapds, knelt down before him, and begged for mercy in the 
agony of despair, but found no touch of pit}' in that savage 
breast. Hour after hour the slaughter went on, and onl}- ceased 
when the last of the victims had been butchered. f The princes 
and nobles delighted in these massacres, and acquired a strange 
thirst for blood. Children were tought to dabble in it. Young 
boys of fifteen exulted in murder. MonstreletJ tells us how 
John of Ligny, count of Luxembourg, took his little nephew 



* Froissart, CLXXXIV. f Froissart, CCXC. + Monstrelet, I. 623. 



25 

with him, pursued some fugitive soldiers, und instructed him 
how to kill several, in which the child took much delight. 

The chevMliers were the principal support of the crusades, 
to which, in virtue of the power he iiad received as the succes- 
sor of St. Peter, the Pope exhorted IheChiistaiu world. They 
were called ujjou to punish the enemies of the faith, who were 
supposed to have desecrated the holy places of Palestine. Ev- 
ery sinner was absolved from everj- sin ; even murder was for- 
given him who would take up arms in defence of the church. 
Hell was not permitted to punish crime, and heaven was gained 
by the assasination of a Saracen.* 

Multitudes sped upon this pious errand, and flocked by thou- 
sands to tight beneath the consecrated banner. Some Germans 
thought it would be more consistent to extinguish the unbeliev- 
ers in Europe, before undertaking to exterminate the intidels of 
Asia ; and in pursuance of this laudable purpose, count Emicho 
of Leinigen, fell u[)ou the Jews and murdered twelve thousand 
of them. t Indeed, thr(Mighuut this age, the Jews were treated 
with atrocious cruelty. A jjolitical disturbance or the visit of an 
epidemic, was quite sufficient excuse for a massacre of the Jews. 
The king sometimes interfered in their favor, not from disinter- 
ested motives, we may be sure, but because he considered them 
his own peculiar property, and sometimes when he was short of 
money, he actually mortgaged his Jews. J Such was the rage 
for tighting in this unhappy time, that the highest dignitaries in 
tlie church threw off tiara, mitre, pallium and rochet, and "clad 
in complete steel," went forth, "'Preachers who spake to the 
purpose, steady, straightforward and strong, with irresistible 
logic ; (H-thodox, flashing conviction right into the hearts of the 
heathen. "§ 

Charlemagne endeavored repress this warlike spirit among 
ecclesiastics, and forbade them to carry arms ; and once, when 
he saw a young bishop vault lightly into the saddle, he sternly 
commanded the nimble theologian to resign his bishopric and 



* Hist. Littrraire des Troubadours. Hallam Mid. Ages, I. 47, 50 Ex. 
Pop. Del. 65. t Menzel. I. 364, 365. + Hume, II. 136. ^Rabelais, II. 
339. Froissart, II. Ch. 132, 



26 

to enroll himself in the number of his military followers. The 
ordinances of Charlemagne* however, failed to abolish this un- 
christain temper ; and, long after his time, (111)4) the bishop 
of Beauvais, in all his martial accoutrements, was captured in 
battle by king Richard the first. The Pope, Celestin the third, 
angrily demanded that the bishop, the son of the church, should 
be given up to him. "Return to me my son," he wrote to Rich- 
ard ; whereupon, Richard wrote to the Pope, at the same time 
sending the steel armor of the bishop, with these words, taken 
from the history of Joseph : "Know now whether this be thy 
son's coat or no."t Religion was now a mixture of superstition 
and mummery, a term, by the way, which both the French and 
the English derive from the name of the founder of the religion 
of Islam, Mahomet, Mahoom, Mahoomery. j It was not Christ- 
ianity as we moderns understand it, but a degenerate heathenism 
which ruled the minds of men. 

Had an antique Roman revisited the earth at this period, he 
would have discovered that every ancient deit}- had assumed a 
Christian name. St. Margaret in births, and St. Nicholas in 
tempests, were invoked with just as much success as Lucina and 
Neptune. Diana and Bacchus, Elsculapius and Ceres ; Miner- 
va and Priapus, were replaced by St. Hubert. St. Vincent, St- 
Cosme, St. Gengul, St. Catharine, and St. Fiacre ; enjoying the 
the same power over the elements, animals, maladies and infer- 
nal spirits. The Romans had Vertumnus the god of the sea- 
sons, and Pomona the patron of orchards ; Hygeia the goddess 
of health ; Fornax the goddess of bakers ; Occator the god of 
harrowing ; Runcina the goddess of weeding ; Hippona the 
goddess of stables and horses ; Bubona the goddess of oxen. 

The Christians had St. Appolinica for curing toothache ; St. 
Blaise for sore throats ; St. Lambert for tits. St Wendolin was 
retained to take care of the cows and calves, and St. Gertrude 
to drive away rats. The most licentious practices appeared 
again in the worship of St. Guignolet, of St. Geurlichon and of 
St. Renand. But worse than all, a poet dares to render thanks 



* Menzel, Gesch. 1. 230. f Voltaire, essai sur les Moeurs, Chap. L. Rog- 
er ofWendover, II. 148. (note.) 



27 

to heaven and St Julien for his success in outraging a woman.* 
When the saints were thus honored it is not surprising to find 
that God was entirely neglected, In fact about this time the 
offerings at the cathedral of Canterbury, were as follows : upon 
the altar of St. Thomas a Becket 950 pounds ; on the altar of 
the VirgMi Mary, four pounds ; upon the altar dedicated to God, 
nothing.** It was considered of the greatest importance that 
these kniglits should distinguish themselves by some wild feat 
or adventurous deed of arms. They were impatient for war| 
as affording them the best opportunity to prove their devotion 
''to God and the ladies." Then were the wildest freaks enact- 
ed, which read like the antics of a world gone mad. They 
would swear to keep one of their ej'es covered with a piece of 
black cloth, so that they could not see with it, until they had 
performed some deed of arms. It They would vow to wear 
heavy chains upon the left arm every Sunday ; swear not to 
sleep in a bed ; to take nothing to eat or drink, except three 
sups of wine in honor of the holy trinity ; not to undress till a 
city was taken ; the Chevaliers of the Star vowed not to remove 
in battle more than four acres from the spot where they last 
combatted, which imprudent vow caused the destruction of the 
order which swore it.| The most extraordinary vows were 
those which were sworn upon a pheasant, a peacock, or a heron. 
There is in the library of Berne, Switzerland, J J an old French 
manuscript entitled, ''Le voeu du heron," which, judging from 
internal evidence, was written in the fourteenth or fifteenth 
century. I have ventured upon a translation of this literary 
curiosity, and will read it to jou, because it furnishes us with 
a graphic representation of the manners of the time ; and be- 
cause concurring as it does with historic facts, it has attained 
a degree of probability which amounts to certainty. § Nothing 
appears more revolting than the vow of the queen of England ; 
but the ancient manners were atrocious, and inspired ideas and 
sentiments which cause us to shudder at their ferocity. §§ 



* Hist, litteraire des Troubadours, 1. 11. ** Ludovic Lalanne, Curiosities 
des Traditions, 131. t Mem. Chev. I. 84. ff Froissart, I. Chap. 28. JSis- 
mondi, 7. 21. JJ Palaye, Memories sur L'ancienne Chevalerie, III. 119. 

§ Ibid., III. 20. §§ ibid., III. 18. 



28 

In the spring of the year 1338, Edward the Third, king of 
England, held plenary court, sitting in the midst of barons ; his 
features wore a distracted and gloomy air ; his head was bowed 
upon his breast, and the thoughts which occupied his spirits 
were not those of love. At the same time Robert D'Artois, 
banished from France and a refugee in London, went out to 
enjoy the pleasure of the chase. His hawk, which he held on 
his wrist perceived a heron, and darting upward, seized its prey 
and bore it to his master. Eobert was ashamed of so vile a 
capture ; but having reflected a moment, he bethought himself 
that he might make it useful in his projects of vengeance. He 
detached the heron from the claws of the bird and gave it to 
his cook to remove the feathers and roast it ; after this was 
done Robert placed it between two silver dishes, and then bore 
it to the palace of Edward, followed by three minstrels and two 
noble damsels who joined the accents of their voices to the 
symphony of the musicians. Entering the hall, he addressed 
the chevaliers saying: "I come for the purpose of inviting you 
to make, on this heron, vows worthy of your valor. It is as 
you know, the meanest and most fearful of birds, being fright- 
ened even at its own shadow. For this reason it is that I am 
going to offer it to the most cowardly- of men." Then the count 
turned toward Edward and presented the heron to him as the 
price of his indiflference to the crown of France which he weakly 
abandoned to the power of his rival. Stung by this reproach, 
the king trembled with anger and protested that a year should 
not pass away without Philip seeing him upon his lands in 
France, with fire and sword in his hands, to revenge the affront 
which had been put upon him ; even though the French opposing 
should consist of an army ten times more numerous than his 
own. Robert dissimulating his joy smiled maliciously, and 
congratulated himself upon his first success. 

Then complaining of having been unjustly treated by Philip, 
after all the services which he had rendered him, he engaged to 
enter Edward's army and thus revenge the injuries and wrongs 
which he had suffered. He then took the dishes of silver fol- 
lowed by his fiddlers, who accompanied with the sound of their 
instruments the voices of the damsels. The count crossed the 



29 

hall and addressed himself to the earl of Salisbury, who was 
desperately in love with the daughter of the earl of Derby, and 
invited him as the bravest and most amorous of that assembl}-, 
to give an example to the others, and pronounce his vow on the 
heron. "With all my heart," responded' Salisbury' : "If the 
Virgin Mary were here in person, and if she would consent to 
despoil herself of her divinity, to dispute the prize of beauty 
with her I love, I know not to whom I should yield the prefer- 
ence, and much fear I should not be willing to make an ex- 
change ; but what motive can more strongly induce me to exhibit 
my valor to its full extent than the hope of obtaining the willing 
smiles of that beaut}' for wh(»m I shall ever glory in bearing 
arms, though impatient to obtain the boon which she heartlessly 
refuses. I demand from her to-day onl}- one favor, that she will 
lend me a finger of her beautiful hand ; and that she will deign 
to place it on my right eye, in such a manner that it may be 
entirely closed." The lady instead of one finger, extended two, 
and closed the e^'e so effectuall}- that he was quite unable to see 
out of it. Then the chevalier swore never to open that eye till 
he should have entered France, and to uphold the rights of Ed- 
ward, had fought witli Philip's army ranged in order of battle. 

The count of Artois then called the daughter of the generous 
Derby, and invited her to concur in the vow made on the heron, 
for the defense of the rights of the king of England. The noble 
maiden then promised to listen to the pleadings of no other lord, 
till the vow of her lover should be accomplished. At these 
words the heart of the amorous chevalier was transported with 
new courage and he felt animated with J03'. 

Impatient to satisfy his vengeance, Robert then took up the 
heron again and presented it to Walter de Manny. That brave 
chevalier, in order to fulfil the duties of honor and to prove 
himself worthy of the heroes who had furnished him with such 
brilliant examples, promised, by the holy virgin, to reduce to 
cinders a cit}' surrounded by marshes, defended by strong forti- 
fications, and of which Codemar de Fay had been for a long 
time the governor ; it should be overthrown and the garrison 
slain. "I undertake," said DeMann}-, "to return safe and 
sound, without the least wound, and will bring off* in the same 



30 



manner the valiant warriors who enter with me." As for the 
rest, I throw m3'self into the hands of God, who alone can give 
me success and enable me to fulfil this vow. Robert then called 
upon the earl of Derby, and requested him to swear as the oth- 
ers had done. He acquiesced and said : "If the king of Eng- 
land take us to the realm of France, we shall see there that 
formidable count of Flanders, for I make oath to seek him 
especially, to advance near enough to propose a joust, and if I 
am not able to force him to it, I will revenge myself by burning 
before his ej'es the country in which he dares to show himself." 

The count of Artois caused his minstrels to redouble their 
energies, and the ladies began to dance in order still more to 
excite the ardor of the heroes. Again, taking the heron, Rob- 
ert called the chevalier Faquemont and invited him to swear 
that he would cover himself anew with glory in the quarrel be- 
tween the two kings. "To what shall I engage myself? The 
utmost I. can do to mark ni}' attachment and to prove myself 
faithful to honor, is to promise, and I now swear that if the 
English king enters France by the wa}' of Cambresis, 3-ou shall 
see me first at the head of his vanguard, fronting the enemy, 
bearing revenge, arson and murder ; sparing neither pregnant 
women, nor infants, nor old men, nor churches, nor altars." At 
the sound of these haughty words, the assembly was enthusiastic 
in the the plaudits which it bestowed upon him who had shown 
such zeal for the honor of his master. 

Last of all, Robert of Artois approached the queen and desi- 
red her to give utterance to her desires. "Vassal," said she, 
''bound by the sacred ties of marriage, I cannot make any en- 
gagement without the authoritj' and express commandment of 
ray lord, who can confirm or annul it at his pleasure." "Let 
that be no obstacle," said Edward, "make whatever vow you 
please, I ratify it in advance ; and may the mother of God aid 
3-ou." Then the queen with a firm voice said ; "I am pregnant, 
I cannot doubt it, I feel the infant within me ; I swear then to 
God, and to the holy Virgin, that this precious fruit of our union 
shall never remove from my womb, until you have conducted 
me bej'ond the sea for the accomplishment of your own vows : 
if there shall be infallible signs of the near approach of my 



31 

child's birth, belbre tlie time I have prescribed, this dagger with 
which 1 am armed, I will plunge into my Hank and destroy at 
one stroke, both my child and my own sonl."* The king made 
hasty preparations for departure and soon arrived at the low 
countries, and there the queen gave birth to a male child, who 
received the name of ''The Lion of Antwerp." 

Such were the men and women, the manners and customs of 
this terrible time ; a time iu which, for my part, I can see very 
little to admire, but very much to hate. It was an age when the 
wildest frenzies spread with all the fury of a pestilence and with 
consequences scarcely less pernicious and deplorable. Plagues 
revelled in the tilth of poverty, blasted the air of the country, 
and left the cities almost tenantless. It was an age when thick 
darkness hung over the world ; when witches rode through the 
air on broom-sticks and brewed hurricanes in their infernal caul- 
drons ; an age of sorcery and succuba ; when devils were the 
daily companions of men ; when tyranny was a law, and perse- 
cution a religion. 

Now and then there was a lull in the storm, a ray of hope 
flashed for a moment through the driving clouds. Now and 
then a light was borne aloft by some intrepid guide who boldly 
ventured out into the darkness and tempest of that furious time 
to find a way that should lead the world to a brighter future. 
But that guide was generally confronted by the powers which 
were travelling in the exactly opposite direction ; his little light 
was rudely snatched away, and only served to ignite the faggots 
which were gathered to consume him. Such was the fate of 
nearly every one who ventured to lighten the load of life and 
make the burden of misery less intolerable. The work of "pious 
combustion" went on from the year of our Lord 304, till the close 
of the year 17^<l.t The people struggled again and again, to 
break the chains which bound them to the principalities and 
powers which could see no better use for the best of men than 
to make bonfires of them, or to qualify them for Procrustes' bed. 

The highwaymen of the eighteenth century, the Macheaths, 
the Dnvals, the Macleans and the Flemings, were the modern 



* Memoires sur L'ancieniic Chevalrie. Tome III. 1--15. f Man. Dates, 
Alban was burned, 304. A nun at Seville Nov. 7, 1781. pp. 103 107. 



32 

representatives of chivalry. These knights of the road would 
have placed their pistols at your head with a courteous apology 
and have left you purse-less with a gallant bow. To be chival- 
rous was not to be honorable, to be knightly was not to be good. 
Those terms are never used to express these attributes, except 
by persojis who aim at sound rather than sense, and who strive 
to please the ear and charm the fancy by the jingle of the 
brassy adjectives. Those terms fail to signify the sterling qual- 
ities which constitute the gentleman ; ''That grand old name, 
defamed by every charlatan, and soiled by all ignoble use." 

It may be urged that that age was a different one from the 
present, and that they who lived in it should be measured by a 
different standard. But when human beings are held up as fit- 
ting objects for our respect and approval, we must estimate 
them by the rule which we possess, or the objects lose all the 
force of example. We have a right to protest against an inch 
being called a foot, and against being told that we ought to 
to admire the extent of anything measured. There must be 
some limit to appreciation or the word itself has no significance. 
For this reason, no eulogist of the past can justly tind fault with 
us, if we insist upon limiting our approbation to something whicli 
shall be on this side of barbarism. Yet there are persons who 
are never tired of saying that chivalry lent a charm to the inter- 
course between the sexes, and shed a refining influence through- 
out civilization ; but when men are murderers of the defenceless 
and violators of every principle of justice, it ill becomes any 
one to claim that such creatures taught the world the tender 
graces that adorn society. Their courtesy is not of the right 
breed. Humanity is insulted by brutality's compliment. The 
posession of a certain degree of refinement actually increases 
our detestation. We are as much disgusted at being told that 
these chevaliers were polite, as if we were informed of cannibals 
who were fastidious about napkin and table-cloth. 



m> 



33 

At the regular meeting, Feb. Ttli, thirty members 
mid visitors were present. A letter was read from 
Hon. Henry P. Upham of St. Paul, Minn., accepting 
membership in this Society, and enclosing his check 
for $100, to paj^ his admission as a life member, and 
the })alance to be applied for current expenses, print- 
ing, etc. The thanks of the Society was voted for 
the gift. 

Mr. Addison Prentiss read an interesting sketch 
of tlie early history and present condition of New- 
foundland. Mr. S. E. Staples gave a sketch of per- 
sonal observations in libraries, museums &c., during 
a recent visit to New York. 

At the meeting March 7th, 32 members and visit- 
ors were present. Gen. Josiah Picket and Major 
Frederick G. Stiles, both of Worcester, were elected 
to active membership. Charles R. Johnson Esq., 
read a carefully prepared and interesting paper on 
"Some Recent Discoveries in Egypt and Assyria." 
It was followed by an interesting discussion on the 
character, accuracy and value of current archajologi- 
cal discussions. 

The April meeting was held on the 4th inst., with 
25 members and visitors present. Herbert Wesby 
of Worcester was elected to active membership. 
Among the accessions reported by the Librarian, 
was a copy of Cotton Mather's "Magnalia," by Mr. 
David S. Messenger, and a copy of Miss Ellen D. 
Larned's "History of Windham County, Conn.," by 
the author, for whirli the SocictN voted its thanks. 



34 

The President alluded to the recent visit to this city 
of a delegation of the Zuni Indians, and interesting 
remarks upon their history were made, by President 
Crane, and Messrs. Henry M. Smith, Alfred S. Roe, 
Nathaniel Paine, and the Secretary. 

Mr. Alfred S. Roe read the following sketch of the 
life of Rev. Levi Pillsbury of Winchendon, Mass., 
and presented the Society with a quantity of his 
manuscripts, a diary, sermons, etc. 

REV. LEVI PILLSBURY. 



By ALFRED S. ROE. 



There are few manuscripts that are not worth}- of preservation 
and, especiall}', if they have escaped the hand of the destroyer 
for more than fifty j^ears, they ought to pass into keeping where 
the}' will probably be taken care of. This was ray though when 
I rescued a bundle of old papers from that insatiable ma^v, (at 
an}' rate insatiable as far as literary matters are concerned) the 
paper mill. 

LTndoing the ancient green string that confined the papers, 
I found myself in possession of a mass of sermons preached, at 
the beginning of this century, by the Rev. Levi Pillsbury at 
"W," an initial which 1 subsequently found stood for Winchen- 
don, Mass. Accompanying the bundle, or included in it, was 
a manuscript journal, left by the clergynan when he was a stu- 
dent in Dartmouth college, whence he graduated in 17!).s. This 
journal contains abstracts of many sermons, heard by him. 
several essays and poems read in class, a catalogue of books in 
the college library in his day and many pious reflections, the 
same continuing down to nearly the date of his death, which 
occurred in 1819. 



35 . 

Tlu' seriiious are not written out in lull ; but are simply the 
headings of his discourses and give us a verj' good idea of the 
ability of the preacher. I suppose many would call them "•skele- 
tons" u[)on which the preacher lays the tiesh as he addresses his 
hearers. They are eighty-<nu' in number, besides one frag- 
ment. 8ome of them seemed to be especial favorites of the 
clergyman, having been preached many times, and on one I find 
no less than fourteen dates, he having preached it repeatedl}- in 
Winchendon and once, at least, in all the surrounding towns. 
These abstracts range in years from 1802 to 1819 on the Feb- 
ruary preceding his death. 

Having had my curiosity piqued to know more of this man, 
into whose inner life I had been looking as I read the words so 
earnestly expressed more than seventy years ago, I turned first 
to my Triennial of Dartmouth College. By the way, the preach- 
er's name does not occur in the papers from beginning to end, 
but on one page he mentions the receipt of a letter from his 
father informing him of the death of his sister, Hannah Pillsburj'. 
The dates given along led me to look in the catalogue for a 
Pillsbury, and there I find a Levi Pillsbury, in italics, conse- 
quently, a preacher, who died in 1819. Some of the sermons 
had l)een preached in Rindge N. H. So seeking his name in 
the history of Rindge I find that Rev. Seth Payson of Rindge 
in LSI 9 preached the funeral sermon of the Rev. Levi Pillsbury 
of Winchendon. My subject was located. A trip to the Anti- 
quarian Hall was next in order and in Ezra H3'de's histor}' of 
Winchendon I find the following in connection with church 
affairs : 



& 



''After a space of about one year and six months, Rev. Levi 
Pillsbury, educated at Dartmouth College, took the pastoral 
charge of the church. He w^as ordained June 24, 1801. He con- 
tinued his lal)ors till the period of his death, which occurred 
April ;'), 1S]!». in the 48th year of his age, and 18th of his 
minisfjy." 

That he was a careful painstaking pastor is evidenced by what 
follows in the narrative which professes to have been written 
for the edification of the youth of Winchendon and the adjoin- 
ing towns : 



36 

"Mr. Pillshnry's lal)ors were greatly blessed to this people; 
and there are iiiaiiy now who hold his luune in allectionate re- 
inenil)rance. During!: his ministry the church and people enjoy- 
ed a good degree of prosperity. There were one or two power- 
ful (though they cannot, i)erhaps, be considered extensive or 
general) revivals of religion, which are now remenibei-ed wilh 
lively interest b}' the older members of the church. During 
the second year of his ministry, twenty or more were added 
to the church by recommendation and original profession." 

Turning from Hyde to Marvin, I lind in the hitler's history 
many items, from which I cull the ibllowing : 

In town mei'ting March K!, l«Ol it was "Voted to give Mr. 
Levi Pillsbury $100, for his annual salary, so long as he shall 
continue to be our public teacher of piety, religion and morality, 
the said Mr. Pillslyur^' relinquishing all claims to miiiistei-ial 
lands and rents belonging to said t<nvn." One hundred dollars 
was voted to defray expenses of ordination. 

Winchendon was strongh' Federal in politics, sometimes the 
Federal candidate receiving every vote cast and always a large 
majority. The minister was Republican or a folh^wer of Jeffer- 
son and his school. This difference n)ade pastor and peopU- 
pull in opposfte directions, and in ISOT an attempt was made to 
sever their mutual relations. . On the 1th of May a counnittcc 
was appointed to converse with the ministei- and cndcMvoi' to 
bring about a conciliation, or in other words to make him change 
his politics. Then it was voted to endeavor to bring about a 
separation. On the loth of June Mr. Pillsbury sent in his letter. 
which is not on rec^ord. On the 2'.)th of June the town \(;ted 
whether the services of Mr. Pillsbui-y slioidd be iclained. 

As I have stated, Marvin says that the letter is not on rei-ord ; 
but in these pajjcrs I find a half sheet closely written in wliicli 
the preacher very clearly defines his position. Without quoting- 
much from it, sullice it to say, that he consents to give U[) his 
position provided the town will settle all arrearages of salary 
and pay him seven hundred dollars for tiie laiin on which he 
lives and upon which he has made many improvements. It i.s 
impossible to say whether this ultimatum of money influenced 
the subsequent vote or not, but the vote stood Al to 44 in Mr. 
Pilsbury's favor and Federal Christians had to take their reli- 
gion from Republican lips. 



37 

111 LSI 1 the trouhlo lirokc fortli :i<iaiii, tlic clerg} iiiau warmly 
suppurtiiig the ponoral <2;ovei'nmeiit in tlie war against Great 
Britain, while tlu' people seeondcd (Ion. Strong in his opposi- 
tion. In the warrant occiirrod this sentence ; "'Whether any 
alteration ean he nia(h' wiiieh will render the preaching of the 
gospel in this town more nseliil." In town meeting it was 
voted that the preaching of the gosi)el in this place can be ren- 
dered more nseful hy each individual attending more strictly to 
the duties it enjoins, and the minister was directed to abstain 
from disseminating from the pulpit the principles which are not 
contained in the gospel. Mr. Pillsbury was strictly orthodox, 
liut his non-gospel doctrines were those of Jefferson, Madison, 
ct ill. Thenceforward the minister was unmolested. 

On his sudden decease in 1819 the town votecl to pay the 
funeral charges and to purchase suitable mourning articles for 
his family. On the lOth of INI ay the town voted to pay the bill 
presented. It inchided Ix'sides the usual articles of flour, sugar, 
nfeat, pay for horses and li(juorp, such as brandy and West 
India rum, "Hi nnigs of toddy delivered to the music, costing 
$4, and $3 for the committee." There was $30 worth of ap- 
parel. The collin cost S4, — above the usual price. Though 
the funeral oceuri'ed in April, the 7th or 8th, there was paid to 
men for rum and sugar in shoveling snow from the road $1,54 ; 
cigars $.U). 

The picture which the al)ove items jjresent is well worth our 
inspection, the vn\\\ consumed liy the singers and music com- 
mittee costing more than the cotlin in which the dead divine was 
lying. Some of our sighers for the "good old times" ought 
to be obliiied to i>aze on this scene <iil nauseam. All honor to 
that old hero* of our city, in age verging a lunidred, who first 
raised his voice against such courses. Before we have much more 
to say about the "wakes" held by a certain nationality let us re- 
member that ire are not fifty years away from time when the rites 
for the dead were sometimes turned into bacchanalian revels. 

The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Seth Payson 
of Hind<>-e, N. II.. and we may conclude that the weather as 



* Rev. George Allen. 



38 

well as the drinking habits was decidedly old fashioned as we 
read the item of snow shoveling. On the 15th of August follow- 
ing, the town voted $15 to purchase tomb-stones for its deceased 
minister. Four j-ears later, these having been broken, the town 
procured others. Later still his children have set up an elegant 
monument. 

"His death bed was calm and serene, and being asked what 
directions he wished to leave in relation to his family, he rei)lied, 
'Follow the leadings of Providence.' His ministry came in 
time to save the church from the experience of many others in the 
Commonwealth which lapsed into some form of Unitarianism." 

In 1804 he withdrew from the Westminster Association and 
in 1806 joined that of Worcester which met at Kev, Samuel 
Austin's in Worcester. This Association has always been noted 
for its strict adherance to early Congregational usages. 1 find 
that he was opposed to the "half way covenant" which did so 
much towards unsettling firm religious faith in New England. 

An incident given of his perseverance leads one to think that 
he must have come from the same stock as that veteran Aboli- 
tionist, Parker Pillsbur}'. 

In 1807, towards the last of March, Mr. Pillsbury and Dr. 
Whiton struggled through the snow to the meeting-house, some- 
times on the top of the wall. No one else was there, and they 
returned in the same way. Then too his attitude, when assault- 
ed b}' the Federal party, partakes much of that heroic stubborn- 
ness that seems characteristic of the name. 

So much as a sketch of the life of this man. Now let us see 
what his Journal contains. I turn over many abstracts of ser- 
mons and disquisitions on Edwards, the will, and Hopkins till 
I come to an essay on education, read before his college class 
in 1796. He begins, 

"'Tis education forms the common mind, 
Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." 

It is realh' a sermon under the guise of an essay. The man 
was a born preacher, as he shows in his method of illustrati<;>u 
and arrangement. The same subject has been a stock theme 
for ages. Then follows a quotation from Pope's translation of 



39 

the Iliad. Immediately, we stumble upon a form for the bap- 
tism of children, and then like Mr. Wegg we drop into verse as 
follows : 

ON THE MIND. 

"Immortal miud ! How quick it runs 
By fixed stars which may be suns, 
And in an instant seems to trace 
The vast expanse of empty space. 

'Tis not like planets which do run 
And make their orbits 'round the sun 
More like the comets which do fly 
In all directions through the sky. 

The natural mind, in every station 
Desires to gain the whole creation, 
And could it all the world obtain 
'T would still be seeking after gain." 

This effusion was composed and spoken in 1797. His poem 
on the "Nature of Things" is quite too didactic for quotation 
here, but this of two stanzas, spoken in College Chapel July 6, 
1797, we venture to give : 

"In every paper and every book 

I 've ransacked well and pains have took 

To find a piece, ■which in our age 

Has not been spoken on the stage. 

But all in vain ! My time is lost 
I 've nothing found that pays the cost, 
For everything that's good or queer 
Has first or last, been spoken here." 

We are next favored with a long essay, read before the Theo- 
logical Society ; but it is quite too heavy for us. He gives his 
notions of being called to preach, believing that men were as 
much inspired by that divine mission in his day as in the da^'s 
of Christ. Next, he proves Hopkinsia)nsm to be Arminianism 
by metaphysics ; he discourses on the unknowable and fore- 
knowledge. He defines Democracy as supreme power lodged 
in the people ; in the hands of wise men, Aristocracy, He 
quotes i. e. writes at length from Rollin, so I may conclude that 



40 

in early life he did not possess the works of the great French- 
man, but copied when he had a chance. He describes the three 
Greek feasts of Athena), Bacchus and Eleusis. He transcribes 
an essay "Does the mind act continually?" read before the class 
in 1797. In monosyllabic distinctness I find the heading "Hell" 
"A place of punishment, wherein the wicked are to receive the 
reward of their evil deeds after this life." Mr. Pillsbury does 
not tell us what he thinks about it ; but he does say that Mr. 
Whiston thinks that comets are so many hells, and Mr. 8wiu- 
den thinks the sun itself may be a local hell because it is con- 
tinually burning. He gives a long discourse on the subject of 
oratory, mainly from lectures delivered in college. He adduces 
nothino- new. I will confess my own inability to follow some of 
the theological reasoning as when he tries to prove baptize'd 
children to be holy. A history of the church of Rome before 
the Reformation and "How the Reformation was brought into 
England" he compresses into less than four pages of his MS. 

He takes occasion to hit the Anabaptists a rap, showing, as 
he thinks, the inconsistency of their professions. One passage 
is headed "The Rev. Mr. Bradford's Church Covenant, rer.d 
to me Nov. 25, 1798," Hereupon follows a most interesting 
account of his own spiritual progress from a condition of indif- 
ference to a most complete reliance on the saving mercies of Je- 
sus Christ. Were it not for a seeming violation of confidence, 1 
would quote it in full ; but words written for other times and 
other men and, apparently, so thoroughly sincere, 1 cannot 
bring myself to transcribe. He appends to this part the date. 
Nov. 2.5, 1798, and his initials L. P. 

Here is a poem made to be spoken at the dedication of the 
Rowley school house, Nov. 29, 1798. 

1 

My fellow students, one and all 
Rejoice to leave that smoky hall, 
The old school-house, I mean and say 
Where we have studied many a day. 

2 
Where lads and lasses often met 
And some half froze, some in a sweat, 



41 

In such a crowd not one to ten 
Could read or write or mend a pen. 

3 

But here's the place, oh this is meet 
Where every boy may have a seat, 
Where smoke our eyes can never spoil 
Oh this is something worth the while. 

4 
Hail happy seats ! what pretty things, 
More pleasing than the court of kings, 
And here let girls and boys unite 
In all their studies and delight. 

5 

And if you think it not too nice 
I'll give you some of my advice ; 
Cut not your books nor your seat 
But always keep them clean and neat. 

He next, under thirteen heads, draws a parallel between 
physical and moral ailment, endeavoring to show how each, if 
taken in time, may be cnred. Omitting several qnotations from 
Dr. Rush and the comments of a Mr. Davis on carousals on 
Christmas day, I find this llnal entry : 

"Nov. 14, 1815. Received a letter from my Hon. Father, 
Canaan, which brings the melanchol}' tidings that my dear sis- 
ter, Hannah Pillsbnry, is no more. She married to Capt. Dan- 
iel Pillsburry and moved to Brownsville Pennsylvania, and died 
in August, ISls, of a nervous fever, aged 26. 'Surely all flesh 
is grass and the goodness of man as the flower of the field !' 
May I have grace to improve this event to the glory of God." 

Appended to this Journal is a catalogue of about one half the 
books in Dartmouth College Library, in the year 1796. He 
gives the names of over five hundred books and mentions as 
many more old books and pamphlets. How certain people 
whom I know in this Society would rejoice at a sight of these 
same old books thus ruthlessly lumped olf. It is obvious that 
in his day there was no printed catalogue, else he would not 
have taken the pains to write so many names. A study of the 
titles is not uninteresting, for these books are the ones that 



42 



Dauiel Webster must have read, if ho read any, while he was in 
college. AVe find Rollin, Gibbon. Kobertson and the oWwv 
standard historians. Comnientario!? and sermons are in great 
abundance. There are some works in Greek and Latin ; a very 
little on Political Economy : some on Botany. Addison :nul 
Pope are there ; Baxter's Saints' Everlasting Rest, of eourse. 
In the entire list I find but one author who can be called a nov- 
elist, viz. Fielding. Me is here in twelve volumes. I wonder if 
those staid young men, provided our subject was a fair example 
of the lot, took much pleasure in Tom. Jones or the Adventures 
of Jonathan Wild? John Wesley appears in '-Original Sin." 
There is very little local history ; but on the whole the list is 
what we should very much dislike being confined to unless the 
<'old books and pamphlets" turned out a better lot than those 
named. In those days books in order to be ''improving" umst 
be of a very select character and their solidity was often entirely 
lacking in elasticity. Some of them come down to our day and 
we lay them up on shelves as interesting curiosities and wonder 
if people ever really read such queer things. 

I have followed the manuscript of this clergyman from his 
Alpha to his Omega and as I have no further use for it and the 
sermons, I take pleasure in presenting them to the Society. 



43 

A regular iiioeting was held May second, with 25 
persons in attendance. Thomas E. Bartlett of Cam- 
bridge, Ma^^s., was elected a corresponding member, 
and J)r. C. Otis Goodwin and Maj. Edward T. 
Raymond of Worcester were elected to active mem- 
bership. Henry M. Smith read an interesting sketch 
of "Worcester in 1834," which was discussed by 
several members. Hon. Henry P. Upham of St. 
Panl, Minn., made a pleasing address, expressing his 
interest in the work of the Society. 

The meetintr for June was held on the Gth inst., 
with 24 persons present. Among the accessions 
presented to the library was a large and valuable 
collection of musical compositions, by their author, 
Mr. C. C. Stearns of Worcester, for which the Society 
voted its thanks. 

The President was authorized and directed to 
organize an additional department in the Society, to 
be called ''The Department of Military History." 

The Society voted to publish "The Records of the 
Court of General Sessions of the Peace, for Worces- 
ter Count v, from 1731 to 1737," to be numbered 
X\'III. of the Society's Publications. Messrs. E. H. 
Thompson, Franklin P. Rice and Henry M. Smith 
were appointed to arrange for the annual excursion 
of the Societv. 

The Secretary-, Henry L. Shumway, read the fol- 
lowing paper: — 



AN OLD-TIME MINISTER. 



By henry L. SHUMWAY. 



The men who were influential in public affairs in New England 
in the last quarter of the last century are far enough removed 
from us to be considered antiquarian. Science has made such 
rapid strides that their times seem quite primitive, and an insight 
into their thoughts and their everyday life is a curious and 
interesting spectacle. Of these men none were more influential 
than the country ministers. They were almost the only points 
of contact with literature and scholarship, open to the common 
people, and they had not then lost their hold upon iniblic 
affairs. They were settled by vote of the town, and every man 
of property was taxed for their support ; and if he staid away 
from the preaching he paid for, he was called to a serious ac- 
count. If, being admonished, he persisted in his contumacious 
conduct, he was almost if not quite ostracized by good society. 
They were almost the dictators of public opinion, and naturally 
grew to feel that they possessed no little absolute authority. 

The last quarter of the last century- however, saw the begin- 
ning of a change in the ministerial office. The people began to 
have olimmerinsfs of the idea that there was room in human 
thought for variety in religious opinion, and to think thjit reli- 
gion was not necessarily a matter to be complicated with the 
secular aff'airs of every township. They had not reached the 
point where thev denied the minister all the rights he claimed 
in his pulpit ministrations, but they made what were ultimntely 
successful objections to the union of church and town, whidi was 
almost as burdensome as the union of church and state wliich 
their ancestors opposed in the Mother Country. The chanoe 



45 

involved in the development of these ideas "was not kindly re- 
ceived by the old-time ministers. They resisted all innovations, 
and fought a losing battle with great pertinacity. 

Among these ministers, many of whose names are now buried 
in must}* church-records and forgotten, was Rev. Ebenezer 
Chaplin, minister of the Second Parish of Sutton in this county, 
the Second Parish now being the town of Millbury, and the 
church now being the First Congregational church, located in 
the village of Bramanville. By chance a mass of manuscripts, 
including a portion of his diary during the struggle referred to 
have come under my notice and excited my interest. Some of 
his published works have also been preserved, and these, with 
such brief biographical data as I have been able to gather, are 
the basis of the sketch 1 have to present this evening. 

Rev. Ebenezer Chaplin was ordained minister of the Second 
Parish of Sutton, Nov 14, 1704, and was dismissed March '22, 
1792. He removed to Hard wick about 1803, and died there Dec. 
13, 1822, aged 89 years. He graduated at Yale in 1763, and 
received the Degree of A. M. from his Alma Mater in 1767. 
He was delegate from Sutton to the convention which framed 
the State constitution, and which met at Cambridge in 1779. 
Thus much written history records of him. He is also credited 
with the authorship of quite a list of publications, most of which 
are like himself entirely forgotten. 

Mr. Chaplin's largest work of which any record appe:irs is 
••A Treatise on the Nature and Importance of the Sacraments," 
which was printed by Daniel Greenleaf at Worcester in 1802. 
It is not wliat may lie properly termed a rare book, but is so 
infrequent that but few even of those who enjoy the dry theologi- 
cal disquisitions of the last century have ever seen it. Copies 
are in the library of the American Antiquarian Society, and of 
Harvard College, and I know of two copies in the libraries of 
members of this Society. In common with the New England 
orthodoxy of his time, Mr. Chaplin had what seems, to the more 
liberal vision of the present day. a very severe prejudice against 
the denomination known as the Baptists, and in the preface to 
his "Treatise" he admits ''the principal inducement to write 
what is here oti'ered : was findino; in several instances ; that 



46 

persons who, for sometime, had been seeking to find the right 
Way, as to Baptism, without satisfaction ; were fully satisfied 
in their minds ; on hearing me explain it." We are not disap- 
pointed, in examining the volume, to find that its larger portion 
and its most prodigious argumentation are devoted to the de- 
molition of the Baptist doctrines. The Treatise is a sizable 
volume of nearly 300 pages, and it is as dry as it is possible for 
such a work to be, full of detailed argument which will most 
likely exhaust rather than interest and edify the modern reader. 
As is proper in a book assuming to explain God's dealings 
with men, and the causes which made sacraments a necessitj-, 
Mr. Chaplin begins at the beginning and asserts the following : 

"GOD the CREATOR eternally existed a SYSTEM or SO- 
CIETY OF DKITY. A Phimlitii in Unitu ; possessed of most 
Perfect, and consummate attributes, and Perfections for general 
Good. The Deity did not exist in simple 'persoiiuJity. For if 
he had ben, but a mere simple personality of Existence there 
could have been no possibilit}', of an}* such things, as are called 
the moral Perfections of God. There can be no such thino- as 
Righteousness, where there is only, a mere simple personalit}' 
of Existence. For Rigldeousness is a relative term ; or a term 
expressing the Relation, of rational Intelligences to each other. 
In order for there to be, any such thing as liigliteousness ; 
there must be a subject and an object. So also of Love, which 
is the foundation of all moral goodness ; there must be a sub- 
ject and an object; a person to love and a person to be loved. 
We can have no idea of love when there is a mere simplicity of 
Existence. * * * * However in all the things we are acquainted 
with, absolute simplicity cannot multiply or increase. Which 
affords another very considerable argument that the Deity did 
not exist in simplicity." 

It is restful and refreshing, to one who looks at the mysteries 
of Deity, creation, and existence, with reverent awe, and a wil- 
lingness to leave their complete solution until the veil is lifted, 
to read the positive declarations of our author upon these topics. 
These things are not "too wonderful" for him. Having dog- 
matically settled the constitution of Deity, he finds no difficulty 
with minor topics like the creation of angels and men. He de- 
clares the creation of the angels at the time of the Mosaic crea- 
tion, although, to accommodate Job's allusion to the singing 



47 

together of the mornino- stars. Job XXXIII. 7, supposing those 
stars to be the angels, he sa}^ : 

'•1 see nothing against their being created in these six days 
of creation of whicli Moses speaks. For tliey might be created 
the first day ; about tlie time of the first springing forth of light ; 
and be called moniiiKj stars in allusion to that ; in that view 
they would lie eminently mornivg .stars, rising the first morning 
that ever existed. And then they would have all the rest of the 
week, five days and a half to sing, and rejoice * * * * But what 
thev could be' employed about, before any other creation besides 
themselves was progressing, no one can devise." 

Our author evidently had reached the point of mental poise, 
more common, perhaps, at this later day, where he could con- 
fidently assume that whatever in Deity or in creation was be- 
yond his ''devising" could not exist. He interprets man's 
creation, Gen. I. 27, thus: 

"This is a plain assertion of God, that he made man in his 
own Image, as to PLURALITY in UNITY and Dominion. 
His expressing his own Pluralittj as a pattern, by which he 
would make the man ; and making of man in the same terms 
both plural and singular ; plainly shows that the Union of Plu- 
ralit>i, of the persons of the Deity ; was the principal thing, in 
the image of which he made man ; At the s^ime time evidences, 
that he made the whole system of man ; all that he should ever 
multiply into, in that man he then made." 

He continues, not to argue, but to confidently explain that 
man as a finite being was made conscious of material things by 
personal contact with them. It was necessary, as God was 
invisible, and intangible to human senses, that there should be 
some tangible, visible means of making man conscious of his 
relations to God. Therefore God forbade the eating of the 
fruit of the forbidden tree, and the tree thus became a Sacra- 
mental Token, reminding man of the reality of the Divine ex- 
istejnce, and of his relations and obligations to God. 

He proceeds, in the same confident manner, to explain the 
fall of man, giving an insight into the counsels of heaven which 
even the angels "desired to look into" He tells us that angels, 
as created beings, being finite could not comprehend the infinite 
God, and they too needed a Sacramental token, to maintain in 



48 

them a proper sense of the Deity, and this token was God mani- 
fest in Humanit}", — the Incarnation. This the angels were 
appointed to contemplate and believe. God's will in this regard 
being made known to the angels, and they being nnable to in- 
vestigate and comprehend the sublime mysterj- of the Incarna- 
tion, one of the principal angels made a question of it, whether 
it could ever come to pass. If he had resolved it in the affirma- 
tive upon God's testimony, he would have kept his faith and 
not sinned. But he abode not in the truth and suffered his 
mind to fall into the negative. This was the first derangement 
in God's sj'stem of creation, which resulted in the rebellion of 
the angel and his expulsion from heaven. Having accepted the 
negative and given God the lie, he had set himself to make his 
part good against God. The quarrel between the Devil and 
God began about Christ the Incarnate God and has always so 
continued. The Devil's constant attempt to discredit the truth 
that the Son of God is come in the tlesh, is a corroborating 
evidence that this was the ground of his original apostacy. His 
first effort after expulsion from heaven was to attempt the se- 
duction of man to sin ; supposing that if lie could succeed he 
would defeat God of ever being manifest in human nature, or at 
least bring God in'to a dilemma, either to abandon His purjjose 
or to unite His Son to a sinful nature ; supposing in cither case 
that he would carry his point against God. Mr. Chaplin am- 
plifies the Biblical account of the fall of man as follows : 

"And here in pronouncing tlie curse upon the serpent or 
Devil in him, God declares the humanity of Christ ; as a creiitive 
word, speaking that Divine seed to life, into this dead system ; 
and declares that he should finally conquer the Devil ; should 
bruise his head, which would be compleat conquest. God here 
speaks to the Devil of that secrZ as something that was known 
of between him and the Devil before. As something the Devil 
had begun a quarrel with him aiiout, and it sounds as if whnt 
the Devil had been about there with the woman and the man. 
was an important thing in the Quarrel." 

He gives several pages to a dogmatic account of what occurred 
in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve and the serixMit, 
making the latter run up the tree to show his dexterity nnd to 
further increase Eve's admiration, and hoping that by arousing 



49 

her anxiety lest he fall off and be killed, to distract her mind 
and secure her apostacy, b}' the eating of the fruit. In this he 
was successful, and the account has excuses for both Adam and 
Eve, that the^- were distracted and confused by the antics and 
spirit of the serpent, and sinned through inadvertence rather 
than by intent. Mr. Chaplin concludes his unveiling of the 
events of creation with the information tliat the question of the 
possibilit}' of the Incarnation was vital amongt he angels until it 
was accomplished, and that doubtless those who took the nega- 
tive became devils. He suppoes there have been no new devils 
sinc8, and that ever since the Resurrection the angels have 
been confirmed in their good estate. 

He finds a third ante-Christian Sacramental Token in the ex- 
pulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, as it was 
a sign or token to them that they could only find salvation by 
a real transition of soul to a new slate, and signifying the in- 
visible, moral or spiritual change, renovation, or transformation, 
that must be wrought by God on the soul in order to find salva- 
tion, but, he says, "this is incidental, and does not supersede 
the necessity of a perpetual Sacramental Token." His fourth 
Sacramental Token was the sacrifice of animals before the time 
of Noah ; the fifth was circumcision, and the sixth was the Jew- 
ish passover. 

Having thus, in Part I. of his essay, disposed of numerous 
questions which have been considered perplexing by ordinary 
theologians in all ages, Mr. Chaplin devotes Part II. to the 
religious meaning and design, the proper subjects of and the 
proper mode of Baptism, in all of which we find him equally 
confident of having mastered all mj'steries. At the outset he 
quotes I. Pet, III., "While the Ark was preparing, wherein 
few, that is eight souls, were saved BY WATER" and sa3-s : 

"This being saved BY WATER has some obscuritv in it, be- 
cause the Scriptures have not directly and expressly told, what 
the water saved them from. But the words here are express, 
that the Water Saved them * * * And I think it cannot be a 
departure from Scripture, to conclude, that the Antediluvians, 
meditated the destruction, of Noah and his family; and were 
preparing to effect it ; when the flood came suddenly and de- 
stroyed them all. * * * * * Noah and his famil}' were shut in 



50 

the Ark. Nothing as we know of, appeared, but they might 
easily set lire to it, and readily demolish the Ark and its eon- 
tents. The Scripture asserting, that Noah and his family were 
saved BY WATER implies, or at least naturally suggests, that 
Fire was the instrument, or means, by which they were exposed 
to be destroyed ; since water is the direct proper element to 
extinguish Fire." 

Ordinary preachers have found it sufficient to accept the idea 
that Noah was saved by water from the destruction caused by 
the flood, but Mr. Chaplin evidently felt it his duty to dig deeper 
and to find a hidden fountain of meaning. He spends much 
space in drawing a parallel between the salvation of Noah and 
that of the race through Christ. He tinds that Israel was saved 
by water in the cloud, the cloud defending them by day from 
being destroyed by the heat. He says : — 

"They were also saved by water in that cloud, in the night ; 
by the particles of water, being so arranged and composed, as 
to collect and transmit the rays of light : perhaps something in 
the manner of our northern lights. It was so that it appeared 
a pillar of fire by night. This, among other purposes, served 
to guard them frombeing destroyed by wild beasts of prey, 
which infest that country ; so that people cannot travel there, 
in the night, without carrying fire with them ; these beasts of 
prey being afraid of fire." 

In this also our author has gone deeper than the ordinary 
student will care to follow him. He recognizes Christian bap- 
tism as the successor of circumcision in the Jewish church, and 
defends infant baptism with the argument that God baptised 
infants with the rest of the Jewish nation, in the cloud and in 
the sea, and that infants were the special subjects of circumcision. 

But it is when he reaches the proper mode of baptism that we 
find him most dogmatic and vigorous, and after quite a long 
discussion he declares : 

"Hence, althouoh we cannot direetlv determine, from those 
instances above considered, what the mode is, or ought to be ; 
yet we may, from those Baptisms, in some measure determine, 
what it is not ; or what cannot l)e the proper mode. And here, 
from the above Baptisms, performed l)y God himself; we nmy 
conclude that immersion, or plunging, cannot be the proper 
mode of Baptism ; for that is rather a figure or emblem of de- 
struction, than of salvation. And it was the real mode, in which 



51 

God destroyed by wdfer, those he took away, to baptize those lie 
saved by ivater. Now it would be so incongruous to institute a 
mode, for a figure or token of ^al ration, wliich God hiniselfhad 
used in Baptism as a mode of real destruction ; that we cannot 
suppose God would do it. It could never strike our minds as a 
Token of Salvation. Therefore we must conclude, that immer- 
sion is not a mode of Baptism, that God ever instituted or de- 
signed." 

Having demonstrated the impossibility of immersion as a 
proper mode of baptism, the ordinary writer would be satisfied, 
and proceed to other topics, but not so with Mr. Chaplin. 
He would not only defeat, but would pulverize his antagonist. 
Therefore he says that immersions, to be etflcacious should be 
of the naked body, which would be indecent; he points to the 
'4aver" in the temple and triumphantly declares that it was too 
small for immersion, and besides, standing on a foot or pedestal 
it would be upset by such use. He alleges that John's baptisms 
were not Christaiu but Mosaic, and that the form used by the 
first Christians was copied from that of the Jews, the formula 
beino- chano-ed. He is so confident that he asserts John's for- 
mula to have been .- "I baptize thee unto repentance, believe 
thou on Him who shall come after me." He further annihilates 
immersion by showing it to be impossible for John to have im- 
mersed so many people. He assumes that he baptised a mil- 
lion people, and says that it would require ten minutes, on an 
average, to immerse an individual ; therefore thirty-six years, 
at twelve hours per day, would be occupied in the work ; then 
there could not have been provided sutlicient clothing for so 
many to change, and for the people to change their clothes out 
there in the wilderness would be an obscene exhibition. But 
our author settles the question that John might have baptised 
a million t)eople, in the orthodox form, in a year and a half; 
he knows that he could get through ten per minute, for he has 
made the experiment. He further demolishes immersion by a 
classical disquisition upon the phrases "in" "into" and "out of," 
in the several Biblical narrations of baptism. He goes through 
the first five books of the New Testament, counting the prepo- 
sitions En, in ; Ajw, out of; Eis, into ; and Ek, out of (plural) 
and finds them 2859 times. His diary shows, under date of 



52 

Jan. 29, 1802, that he spent three weeks in counting these pre- 
positions. When this was done, he began to count "wash." 
"baptize," and "dip," but 1 find no record of the result. A';< is 
used 103;3 times, of which 47 are adverbs ; in 25 cases the 
sense is involved in other w^ords ; the rest, 9G4, are rendered by 
seventeen different prepositions in English ; it is rendered at 53 
times, by 44 times, icith 42 times, among 45 times, and on 30 
times. Ajyo he finds 423 times of which 40G are prepositions, 
rendered thirteen different ways ; it is rendered //-ojji 235 times, 
o/ 92 times, o»^ o/ 42 times,, /or 11 times, and since 7 times. 
Eis he finds 955 times, of whicli 902 are prepositions, rendered 
seventeen different ways, into appearing 388 times and to 88 
times. He finds Ek 44G times, 435 being prepositions, render- 
ed thirteen different ways, — o/TJl times, from 102 times, out 
of 77 times, on 30 times, with 17 times, &e. 

From all this he argues that the use of the particular English 
prepositions do not prove anything regarding immersion. His 
wrand summary is that there is no more need or sense in wet- 
ting the person all over for baptism, than in skinning him all 
over for circumcision. Part HI. of the Treatise is devoted to 
a labored discussion of "covenants" in which there is a field for 
study and reflection, equal to that I have sketched from hi^ 
meditations relating to baptism. 

In the preface to the Treatise Mr. Chaplin proposes to attack 
no one, but simply to state his own conclusions, and he is care- 
ful to keep the pledge, but we must not conclude that he had no 
disposition to personal combat. He is credited with the autlior- 
ship of a pamphlet of which the following is the title : 

"MODERN PHARASAISM, illustrated and proved— by 
Timothy Truth Esq., to which is annexed A CONCISE RE- 
VIEW of Elisha Andrews' brief reply to r>ickerstaff's short. 
Epistle to the Baptists, by Christopher Duntaxat, LL. D., 
Sutton, Printed by Sewall Goodridge, Feb., 1811." 

The book is a curious study of declamation against the Bap- 
tists, whom I fear, Mr. Chaplin assailed quite as vigorously as 
he did the immoralities of his time. He declares that in spite 
of the multiplication of so-called Christian sects, there is really 
nothing new. The Universalists are only the disciples of the 



53 

false prophets under the Jews, and are nearly the same as the 
Oriiiinistsof the first noes of the Christian church. The Method- 
ists are simply Pelagians, but the Baptists are the lineal descend- 
ants of the ancient Pharisees, as he proves, 1st, by their name, 
Separatists ; id, by their similarly mysterious origin ; 3d, be- 
cause they hold to the tradition of the elders, which have no 
faau Lition ill the Scriptures ; 4th, by their strong attachment 
to outward rites and ceremonies ; 5th, by their ostentation 
in religion ; Gth, by their zeal and assiduity in making converts ; 
7th, b}' their contidence in their own righteousness; 8th, by 
their contemptuous treatment and slandering of others. In the 
"Concise Review" he alleges that the Baptist people were not 
capable of writing five sentences of good English, and so got 
Andrews to answer Bickerstatf. In the same vein he paints the 
following portrait of a Baptist preacher : 

''There are comparatively few of their preachments but what 
are interlarded with stories and relations of the preacher's own 
experiences and feelings. He will tell how he was first brought 
to know the truth : how he was tried in his mind about baptism ; 
how he resisted his call to preach ; how humble, vile, and self- 
denying he is, and how unworthy to speak to others on the con- 
cerns of religion. All these things, delivered in an appropriate 
tone of voice, wonderfully tend to set ott" his own goodness, for 
the admiration of the gaping but ignorant throng. And it is no 
uncommon thing for the preacher to tell of some extraordinary 
suggestions, or supernatural revelations, with which he has 
been favored." 

But he did not avoid preaching directly at his own people, 
even when the occasion and the theme led them to expect that 
some one else was to recieve the castigation. One of his print- 
ed sermons is 

"The civil State Compared to Elvers ; All under God's Con- 
trol ; And what People Have to Do when Administration is 
Grievous. Sutton, 2d Parish; Printed by Request; Delivered 
Jan. 17, 1773, the Day Before a Town Meeting to act on the 
Letter from Boston. Prov. XXI. 2." 

We can imagine the anticipations of the zealous patriots, 
chafing under the tyranny of the English king, of a hearty 
demonstration of king-craft and a hurling of old and new Testa- 
men anathemas at the "taxation without representation" party. 



54 

But we can hardly imagine the impression made by the ser- 
mon. Its heads were, 1st, to consider and show wherein the 
king may be compared to rivers of water ; 2d, to show that all 
these things are in the hand of the Lord; ;3d, that all these 
things are guided by the will of the Lord. The application was, 
"See that the land from which the streams originate is pure," 
and his peroration was as follows : 

"Look at home and see if this be not too much the case with 
us, one among another. Oi)pressing, overreaching, usurious 
contracts, all foppery, living upon other men's hil)or and proi)er- 
ty ; when a person goes beyond what he is able to pay for and 
pay his other dues, whatever schemes any take to get other 
men's property witliout equal consideration, — all these things 
are the very same things which we are complaining of in the 
civil administration * * * * So great a work we have to do ; 
every one to put away the violence that is in his own hands ; 
and "seek to God for a new heart. 'Till this is done no one can 
with a good face go to God or ask of Him that he would turn 
the king, or the civil power, to remove these measures we think 
are oppression, and contrary to our natural and constitutional 
rights, unless he lirst put away everytliing from his own doings, 
that is of the same kind towards his neighbor." 

The portions of Mr. Chaplin's manuscrijjt diary, or "A Scp- 
timanary," as he is pleased to call it, that have come to my 
knowledge, are of the dates included between Oct. 18, 1790, and 
March 19, 1802, with occasional memoranda to Jan. 28, 180.5, 
Some portions are fragmentary, and cover only brief statements 
of where he went, the people he met, and his personal expenses, 
while other portions are full of extended argument upon topics 
affecting his mind at the time, and occasionally he has made 
entries which are admirable illustrations of his pastoral work. 
The following, under date of Oct. 20, 1790, illustrates the char- 
acter of his pastoral work, and of the lay criticisms of which he 
was the subject : 

"Went to David Chase's but he was so busy he could not 
attend to sit with me at all. Went to widdow jNIoses Chase's, 
talked with her of her lonely state with some religious apprecia- 
tions. Went to Capt. Small's, — talked with him and his wife 
about professing religion ; they both seemed near ripe to join.* 

* They offered themselves to the church Oct. 29th, the same year. 



55 

Went to lloll)i'ook.s' : Uilked with him abcxit not coming to meet- 
ing : lie alleged as :i reason my pi'caching against folks getting 
apples Salihath Days in my orchard and others' ; which things 
he disa|)pro\ed of in y'' peoi)le. but thought it wasn't proper to 
preach on y'' Sabbath. 1 asked what I should preach, if I must 
not preach against vices of the times? Christ preached so, also 
the Angels and rrojihets. and God ccjnimnnded the Prophet to 
ciy aloud. I added that others c-omi)laiued of i)reaching against 
errors, others of preaching against Frolicks, — queried what I 
should do? He said he liked preaching to raise the Aficctions. 
I told him il'that was all, his Atlections were liable to be moved 
rong as right, unless his understanding was illuminated to Dis- 
cerne Truth ; told him that was the case of the stony-ground 
Hearers, but the good gi'ound. they heard the word and under- 
stood it and brought forth fruit &c. He complained about my 
being backward about preaching at Funerals. I gave him my 
reasons for that. He tluMi said a reason of his leaving our meet- 
ing was because they rated* him too high. I told him I thought 
heought not to leave the congregation for that. He then had 
considerable to say about minister's salary being too high, and 
that ministers would stand ))y one another, which ( ndcd the 
discussion. 1 then went to Sol. Marble's ; he was not at home. 
I talked some with his mother, whether she went to meeting, 
and the state of her mind, and set with Sol's wife a little while ; 
then went to .Tona. "\Vatei-s' and Home." 

This day seems to have been a type of his pastoral labors, 
and this autumn seems to have been a busy one for him, — visit- 
\n<x the sick, praying with some, getting wood and walnuts, 
making eider, collecting and sorting apples, getting his lame 
ox -'blooded", etc. In November of this year he made entries 
of 2 2 pastoral visits, including four to "widdows." 

While Mr. Chaplin was thus ministering to his people a cloud 
was gathering which was soon to burst upon him and the parish, 
and cause their estrangement and separation. It was a matter 
which even now should be mentioned with discretion, and much 
which he wrote of it in his diary ought not to be reproduced 
here, but a statement of the leading facts are necessary to the 
proper understanding of the most interesting period of his his- 
tory. He had a grown-up daughter, Mary, who had attracted 
the attention and the love of a gentleman of the town, of whom 

* Taxed. 



66 

neither Mr. Chaplin nor his wife approved. The first entry in 
the diary, regarding him is Feb. 9, 1791, when he came and ask- 
ed for her of her parents. Mr. Chaplin says "we wholly denied 
him in the most discisive and peremptory manner." The sub- 
ject was continued next day, when "I asserted that I had a right 
by the Bible to negative any such engagement of my child, and 
to controul the disposal of her in marriage." It was agreed to 
take time to consider, the lover meanwhile agreeing to take no 
steps in strengthening himself in Mary's affections, which agree- 
ment he broke by writing her a letter which she showed her 
father. This letter indicates that the matter had already become 
a matter of gossip, as the lover says he had talked with Dea. 
Waters who justified him and would assist him, and they would 
call in Esq. Singletary if needed. Mr. Chaplin seems to have 
seen the bearing of the case, for he writes that he told the lover 

"That he had not treated this matter as a Love Aftair ; it now 
appeared that it was properly a hostile assault ; he had in the 
first instance when he first told us of it said that the matter was 
so strong that we could not break it up ; therefore we must 
comply ; and now he was mustering auxilliaries to compel us to 
surrendr^'. * * * * The same day called at Dea. Jacobs' on 

business, found (the lover) liad been there and introduced 

the matter to him, but no great what had been said by him ; 
however this all evidenced that he was seeking to raise a posse 
to reduce us to a surrendry." 

The story of the quarrel goes on, to the exclusion of nearly 
all else from the diary. Feb. ISth he writes : 

"Went to Dea. Jacobs', carried Mrs. Chaplin with me ; we 

heard some of s nasty tricks in trading, and with INIrs. Green 

and Sally Jacobs, and of his declaring what was in my daughter's 
letters ; and that it was in contemplation to muster the old un- 
easiness of last Fall and threaten me with a dismission, to bring 
me to a surrendrj-." • 

It was finally agreed, Feb. 22d, that the young people should 
break ofl^ the engagement and return each other's letters the next 
day, but although the lover came to the house he did not surren- 
der the letters, other visitors interrupting the "conferance." As 
an antidote the father soon took the daughter to see a woman 
who knew something derogatory to her lover's character, which 
the father writes was "most scandalously mean and inhumane." 



57 

There was an occasional gleam of sunshine for the girl, for 
Feb. 24th "went to Worcester with Molley and Salley, bought 
their gownds at Dixie's ; and got their homespun gownds at 
iStowel's." Whether the "gownds" had a subduing effect upon 
Molley or not is uncertain, but under date of the next day her 
father ''talked with Molley, — she signed a paper certifying that 
she would not marry clandestinely." 

The extent of the sympathy of the parish with the youg peo- 
ple appears in an entry of Feb. 27th : 

Sabbath evening I heard that the Parish were generally 
against us about our daughter ; that Dea. Waters and John 

said that I had blown up and they hoped the Parish would 

l»low me up ; that it was talked of in the Parish to take her by 
force and carr}- her away ; that Mr. Baley and his wife said we 
were too rigid in the affair ; that David Bancroft of Ward was 
very high against us, yet that he was anxious about his son's 

living with last summer, because was a man of no 

principle ; how inconsistent ; how unchristian all this ; The Lord 
judge between us and them, and plead our cause against those 
that rise up against us." 

In a "conferance" with the next day, the diary says : 

"The talk was of such a desultory- nature that I can't recollect 
much of it, saving that he pretended to adduce the case of Samp- 
son and the daughter of Zelophehad to operate against my op- 
posing him or controuling the matches of my children, but I told 
him that of Sampson so far bore a resemblance of the case as 
that Sampson went to get his wife where he did to seek occasion 

against her relations, and so he, , appeared to be seeking 

occasion against us." 

On March 3d there is a record that, 

"I told Mrs. Pierce that I knew, as certain as the nature of 
things admitted of, according to the connection of cause and 

effect, that if Molley had it would be her undoing, that she 

would be miserable in this world and that to come. Therefore 
I was constrained by all the Bonds of a Parent, and I hoped I 
felt some sense of duty to God, to oppose their proceeding as I 
must oppose it if all the parish were against me, and even if all 
the M'orld were against me." 

He felt as he expresses it March 28th, that was "tramp- 
ling upon me, and attempting to obtain her by conquest." On 

April 20 he "heard that the parish wanted to give a horse 

and help him take Molley by force ; also proposed to arrest me 



58 

on a state warrant for false imprisonment." Under the date of 
"Doomsday, 1791," he enters a quaint indication of popular feel- 
ings — "young Jere. Richardson, when he see a load of my flax 
2:0 alons; wished it afire, and that I went oft' in the smoke ; his 
father laughed very heartily at the expression." He had con- 
tinued discussions with his parishoners, explaining and defend- 
ing his conduct, and exposing what he was certain was the bad 
character of , but to one the painful controversy soon ended. 

An aged lady, born and reared in the vicinity, and recently 
deceased, informed me that Molly married another man but 
soon after died. The diary makes no mention of such a mar- 
riage, nor directly of her death, but that she died in the summer 
of 1791 is settled by two entries in the diary: Aug. "29, Dr. 
Jacobs told me of a Sturbridge man who said it was the general 
talk there that we were the cause of killing our child," and Aug. 
31, — "At Nathan'l Stone's, Nathan Holman present, Holman 
told that the people had it fixed in their minds that she set by 
him to the last because I refused him seeing her." 

It is a sad, almost a tragic story, and one can hardly read 
these brown and blotted pages, with their evidences of love for 
his child, an honest desire for her best good, and his struggles 
to defend himself from the troubles which had grown up in the 
parish, without a deep S3-mpathy for him. And at the same 
time the aft'ection between the young people causes the reader 
to regret the blight which separated them. This episode in the 
diary is a quaint and interesting picture of domestic life and 
discipline of a century- ago. But Molly's death seems not to 
have checked the troubles which were gathering about the 
aflflicted pastor. He writes, Aug. 27, 1791, that ''Dr. Freeland 
was warned by the parish people because he attended Chaplin's 
family while several members were violently sick." On Sept. 
26th he enters a note referring to a church meeting about the 
troubles and the calling of a council, and he seems to be prepar- 
ing a defence, for he writes, Sept. 30 : "Mrs. White said Na- 
than Taylor told her that MoUey told his women-folks that she 

had liked , but she did not now, and did not want to have 

him," Also "Mr. Bailey's pec»ple told that Mr. Fairbanks (who 
rode to Worcester with Molley,) talked with her, — she said she 



59 

liked her lover, or she should have been a fool to let the matter 
get so far as it had, but she did not now like him or wish to 
have him or suppose she ever should." On Oct. 17th there was 
a second church meeting, with "manj' complaints entered of not 
visiiing, and my lack of pastoral duties." We can easily see, by 
the feeling of the parish above recorded, that pastoral calls in 
in the second parish of Sutton, just at this time, must have been 
lacking in pleasure to either party. A third church meeting is 
mentioned Oct. 31st. We have seen that the story of these 
troubles had spread as far west as Sturbridge, and we find under 
date of Oct. 24, that "Dr. Freeland said Capt. Lyon of Shrews- 
bury said it was reported there that we locked Molley up till 
she died, or for a long time together." That he had suspicions 
of foul play on the part of the lover in gaining her affections is 
apparent from several entries. 

The several church meetings culminated Nov. 17, 1791, in a 
visit from a church committee, to whom he writes that he re- 
newed his offer of Oct. 31st, for a neutral council to consider 
the differences between himself and the parish. His terms were 
to agree on a chairman and each party to name one half the 
council. He writes, "The Committee and the church seem not 
to desire a mutual council." This is explained by the fact that 
the neighboring ministers were in sympathy with Mr. Chaplin, 
as appears by frequent entries. We can not blame Mr. Chaplin 
for asking a mutual council, for common right would give him 
an equal share in its composition, but we get a glimpse of his 
consciousness of innocense and his confidence in' his Christian 
brethren when he writes under date of Dec. 4th, that at a church 
meetinii- he consented to a council, all the members of which 
were to be selected by the church. With the light thrown by 
his diary upon the feeling in the parieh, we can not see how 
he could have expected justice from such a tribunal. It should 
be here stated that the church records covering this period are 
lost. We get a glimpse of the excited state of public feeling, 
and of the extreme measures which marked the contest, in an 
entry in the diary of Dec. 15, 1791, in which he says, "Learned 
of a most shocking conference last night. and seven oth- 
ers pecking on Dea. Jacobs till he signed a paper confessing 



60 

to and promising not to say anything more about the 

affair unless obliged b}' law ; and friends attempted to en- 
force secrecy but two refused to be bound." One da}" later, 
Dec. IG, he writes, "Yesterday morning Dea. Jacobs had a 
strange fit, speechless for some time and then distracted ; now 
unwell and in great trouble of mind about the embarrassments 
he was put under the night before last ; says a certain person 
brought him some sling in a glass, saw him put one hand over 
the glass while bringing it ; felt strangely after drinking and 
did not know what he did." 

After Mr. Chaplin had decided to consent to an exparte coun- 
cil, he writes, on Nov. 30th, that he "went to Mr. Fish's ; called 

at s ; he asked about our affairs ; I told him the church's 

off'er of a Council ; he observed that they did not use me so well 
as they did old Thief Cook when he stole Nat. Stockwell's pock- 
et-book ; they allowed him to choose one man and the company 
the other." He preached at his own house on the succeeding 
Sunday evening, from which it appears that he was not welcome 
at the church. As an illustration of the style of criticism to 
which he was at this time subjected, we find on Monda}' Dec. 
12th that "Dea. Jacobs came here and told how Phelps com- 
plained that I told him how to carry on his farm, and about 
making cider, but nothing about religion." He adds, — "most 
inviduous representation, I never told him anything about those 
things unless he asked me." Further he says "the Deacon told 
me that John Waters had told him where their great strength 
lay, viz ; in the Constitution where it speaks of their conscien- 
ciously attending public worship ; that they intended to go on 
and vote the dismission and then sign that thej- could not con- 
scientiously' attend, and cite me before the court to show cause 
if any I have why I should not be dismissed. A new way ! ! !" 

The e.vpar?e council convened Dec. 20th : on the 21st and 

22d his entries are "Council on business ;" on the 23d "the 

affair was called on ;" on the 21:th " told over his story ;" 

25th, Sabbath. "Mr. Sanford preached ; sacrament administer- 
ed ;" 27th, "The Council by themselves ;" 28th, "Result read." 

This council was composed of Rev. David Sanford, (of Med- 
way) Nathaniel Emmons, Caleb Alexander, Samuel Austin, 



61 

Timothy Dickinson, Joseph Wheeler, Nathan AV heeler, Aaron 
Phips, John Richardson, Ezra Forrestal, Jesse Haven, Nathan- 
iel Rawson and Ilanan JNIetcalf. 

He does not record the result of the council, but Jan. 1, 1792, 
he recieved a visit from a committee of the parish, composed 
of Dea. Waters, Lieut. Hazeltine, Lieut. Goodell, Abijah Tain- 
ter, Josiah Stiles and Capt. Elliot. He says : — 

"They proposed to me that the}- were come to treat with me 
on terms of separation. I told them they had never asked me 
for a separation. The}' said they were come for me to make 
proposals. I told them it was for them to make proposals and 
not for me." 

He also demanded that all communication between himself 
and the parish should be in writing, and as soon as the com- 
mittee were gone he wrote out the interview and had it witnessed 
bv John Severy and James Greenwood. Sunday, Jan. 8th, he 
"preached at home to a tolerable congregation for the season." 
What occurred until August 11, 1792, does not appear, as a 
volume of the diarj' is missiug, but at~the latter date it is appar- 
ent that the quarrel had taken the shape that the parish claimed 
that he had been dismissed in conformity to the "result" of the 
council, while he denied the legality of their action. The point 
appears to have been that the parish understood that Mr. Chap- 
lin was to ask a dismission at once, while his view was that the 
parish was to settle with him satisfactorily in money matters, 
before he was to ask dismission ; he professes to be ready to 
ask the dismission when the parish had performed its part. 
Jan. 13th has an entry about a "new result" which indicates 
tliat a second session of the council had been held, as it also 
appears that the parish claimed, before this council, £300 dam- 
ages from him, and that a conference had been recommended, 
in which, as at the first council the parish demanded the privi- 
lege of naming all the members. The diary says, quoting a 
conversation, 

"The}' have set up that they will dirty a minister all they can 
and then kick him right out doors and have it go so ; and I was 
determined to do all I could that it should not ; that I would 
not give up the point for all Sutton, nor for all America." 



62 

All this time there was correspondence going on, the parish 
trying, as Mr. Chaplin puts it to "catch" him into making the 
first step towards a dismission, lie speaks of one communica- 
tion as "demanding a paragorical (sic) answer, which is super- 
scribed antescribed and subscribed to me, but it does not tell 
who sent it or that it was ever voted by anybody," and also 
speaksof a "dismissing vote" having been passed by the parish, 
but argues like a lawyer against its legality. In an excess of 
language he writes : — 

It appears that I have made the most fair and decided pro- 
posals to them, but they never have taken any notice of any- 
thing I sent them, not so much as to try the minds of the parish ; 
and I have always taken notice of and answered everything they 
sent to me ; and what could i have done moke than i have 

NOT DONE ?" 

Although the parish claimed that he had been dismissed and 
were looking for a new minister, Mr. Chaplin held to his posi- 
tion, and called a church meeting at his house, Aug. 21st, 1792, 
at which only Capt. Greenwood and Dea. Jacobs attended. 

Just at this point in the diary appears the real issue which 
was at stake in this contest. Mr. Chaplin had been settled by 
a vote of the town, but the dismission was by a parish vote. 
It was among the early conflicts in this State which resulted in 
the separation of the Congregational churches from the towns, 
in the administration of church affairs. He writes Aug. 21st, 
that the "good ground" upon which his opponents claim to stand 
is the fact that "people round about in towns were looking and 
hoping to have this point established, that the power shall be in 
the people to dismiss their ministers just when they please ; that 
therefore they would stand a good chance with a jury." The 
same month he denied his liability to be taxed, on the ground 
that he was a settled minister. All through this year the diary 
is full of recorded conversations about the dispute in the parish, 
what various people, ministers, law3'ers and laymen said about 
it, and frequent allusions to the love affair which set all the 
trouble going. In October he had a council, apparentl}- called 
by himself, of which his only records are "9th, The council 
came, viz : all I applied to ; 10th, went into a hearing; 11th, 
They resulted and read it off; 12th they went home." 



63 

From this point onward he apparently devoted his whole en- 
ergies to establishing his claim against the parish for his salarj^, 
from the time of the vote of dismission. He alludes frequently 
to his ''Narrative" which he was writing and to various confer- 
ence? with his friends who had much to tell him of what his 
opponents said of him. lie also records frequent interviews 
with his legal counsel. It appears that most of the ministers in 
the neighboring towns espoused his cause, although some of 
them appear to have had parishoners who opposed him, and the 
clergy were not entirely without "the fear of man." He records 
having preached occasionally in the neighboring towns, but in 
one case, in Leicester, he declined an invitation, having heard 
that two or three people had threatened to leave the meeting if 
he did so. The "Brotherly Meeting," a circle of ministers, con- 
tinued to fellowship with him, and met occasionally at his house. 
Ilis diary has many interesting entries of opinions, in opposition 
to each other. On one day he writes that Mr. Lee of Royalston 
had "looked over all the matters and he said I was dismissed 
and could get nothing by law from the people." The very next day 
he writes that Lieut. Holman had been to Providence and that 
"it was the universal voice that I should recover of the people." 
This state of disturbance continued until March 25, 1794, 
when he went to Worcester, dined with the court, talked over 
matters with his counsel, Esq. Paine, and his writ against the 
parish for arrears of salary was served on Jedediah Barton on 
that day. He seems to have had a companion in trouble, Mr. 
Avery of Wrentham, whom he assisted at a "general church 
meeting" April 21, 1794, and he says "Col. Hawes had his, and 
pretended to dismiss, also the town, but 70 protested against 
their proceedings." He speaks of those who were friendly to 
him as "orthodox," but his opponents are called "Jacobins." 
He protested, with all his influence and in a formal address 
against the proposed ordination of Rev. Joseph Goffe as his suc- 
cessor in the ministry, and attempted to gather quite a number 
of ministers at the time set for that ceremony, but none of his 
friends appeared. This ordination took place Sept. 9, 1794. 

He remained on his place, carrying on his domestic affairs, 
farming, writing wills, and serving as general factotum for those 



04 

who would employ him. Besides his home-place he seems to 
to have had another estate, as he made frequent entries of going 
"to tother place" to do various farm work. There is a break 
in the diary from Sept. 22, 1794, to Sept. 20, 1796. The first 
entry under the latter date is of an agreement with Stiles for a 
continuance of his action in court. A later date. May 1797, 
shows that the case had been tried in the Court of Common 
Pleas and went in favor of the town, from which Mr. Chaplin 
appealed. This continuance was to the Superior Court. 

At some time during the hiatus in the diary Mrs. Chaplin died, 
for there is an entry Nov. 26, 1796, of his paying Esq. Barton 
$2 for her coffin. In March, 1797, he was severely injured by 
the wind blowing a heavy door upon him, badly bruising his legs. 
He was laid up for several weeks and he records the cutting 
away of portions of flesh to prevent mortification. In the 
midst of this trouble he enters the fact, March 20, "This day 
Robert Goddard buried his 3*^ wife which he has had in 4 years." 
During his confinement a "Minister's Meeting was held at his 
house, at which the questions discussed were, "1. What are we 
to understand by a propensity to sin, previous to sinning? and 
what evidence have we that there is such a propensity ? 2. What 
ought a minister or a private Christian to do on occasion of an 
unfavorable report of the offensive conduct of a brother? 3. Is 
a belief of universal salvation a sufficient reason for excommu- 
nication?" On April 10th of this year five inches of snovv fell, 
and people went about in sleighs ; April 19th another storm left 
drifts three or four feet deep. His case was reached in the 
Superior Court Sept. 19, 1797, and occupied three days, result- 
ing in a verdict for the parish. He devotes a separate volume 
to a record of the legal steps in the case. The counsel for the 
parish were Hon. Levi Lincoln and Hon. Edward Bangs ; and 
Hon. Nathaniel Paine and Hon. Seth Hastings represented Mr. 
Chaplin. He was taxed $102,88, defendant's costs. 

His feeling in the case is well ilhistrated b\' the following 
from an argument which he prepared for the jury of the Supreme 
Court. He accuses the parish as follows : 

"But if on the other hand you give this case in favor of so 
much unfairness, breach of faith, cozening, quibbling, insiduous 



65 

intrigue, and insult, you sot open the llood-gates of the most 
licentious perfidy, insiduous (sic) intrigue, abuse and despotism, 
and bind yourselves and posterity down under the Avorst of 
tyranny ; ibr what can be more intolerable tyranny, than for 
men to intrigue, insult, and pretend ex parte to dissolve con- 
tracts, avoid their promises, refuse to refer differences to indif- 
ferent men ; and when they have referred them to men of their 
own choosing, refuse to comply with their decision, and even 
after they have repeatedly promised to comply ; but go on in a 
series of concealing the truth, shufliing, making promises and 
breaking them, and lying and cozening." 

In his diary he notes the most common events, side by side 
with allusions to the most grave matters: "I shook out my 

things ; paid i'f at the gate ; went to 's and talked about 

baptism ; talked al)out Moral Agency ; read a newspaper ; the 
grey mare got out of the pasture," and the like. April 13, 1791 , 
he writes, "Ordination at Oxford ; Mr. P^mmons' sermon at the 
ordination very disagreeable." His diary is quite full of weather 
notes, and his tobacco-box seems to have been his thermometer. 
On March <S, 18U2, he records, "my tobacco froze in my box 
last night," and this entry occurs of five nights in a single week. 

About this time he was writing something which he alludes 
to frequently as "My System," probably a system of theology, 
and he enters its completion May 26, 1802. June 4th he"agreed 
with Greenleaf to print my book, — set it at 2' per 1000, Strike 
it off 4' per token." Subsequently he decided to print it at 4' 6*^ 
bound and lettered. It was a volume of about 264 pp. and sold 
by subscription. It appears from various entries that this book 
was not "My System." I infer that he kept up his college 
studies during his ministerial life from his apparent familiarity 
with the Greek text of the New Testament, and from an entry. 
May 28, 1802, — "I calculated on the motion of the earth and 
the comet." His closeness in pecuniary matters is illustrated 
by numerous entries. Nov. 13, 1797, he "settled about a steer, 
19% lacking l penny ;" and April 25, 1804, "I paid to Mrs. Sibley 
3' for making my coat, and one penny over, which is to go to- 
wards the breeches." Accurate accountants may feel relieved 
to know that he records the re-payment of this "one penny 
over," June 8th of the same year. 



66 



There is abundant evidence that he was a man of broad cul- 
ture for his time and station in life, but he has left traces which 
modern readers would declare to be superstitious. Thus under 
date of Jan. 5, 1799, he writes: 

"Last night extreme cold ; I came to Burrage's ; the pump 
got froze ; we tried all da}^ to thaw it out ; at night I found the 
spine lose from the box, the lower pin-hole clear the upper pin 
and a nail is in ; but it can't be concieved how it should be so : 
but it must be supernatural." 

Again, March 9, 1800, he was taken sick and was ill until 
June. He writes : 

"The first Monday in June I had Rev'd Messrs. Emerson of 
Conway, Stone of Douglas, Mills of Sutton and Bailey of Ward, 
to spend a season of devotion with me. Since this I have uni- 
formly grown better with some little checks by the way, but I 
think I may justly consider it that God has answered our pra3-'rs.'' 

He found much comfort in a dream of Mrs. Joseph Bond, 
recorded Jan. 23, 1794 : 

"She dreamed of my being in the fire-place, the chimney, even 
the stones all on fire, and I not in the least burnt." 

It would be eas}' to continue these sketches to an indefinite 
length, and even to print the entire mass of manuscript included 
in his diary would not be without antiquarian interest, but I 
have given as much of the old-time minister as time will allow. 
I have not attempted the disquisitions of the historian, nor the 
inferences and arguments of the biographer. My work has been 
rather to compile from a great mass of material enough of the 
words of the old-time minister to present him, in his own proper 
person, to modern ears, with as little else as is possible in a 
connected narrative. Had he lived with such experiences, in 
modern times, his trials and troubles would have found record 
in the dail}^ and the religious press ; as it is his few printed 
books, which are already well nigh lost sight of, and the annals 
of our Society are likely to be the only record of his life. 

The following are the published writings of Mr. Chaplin, so 
far as is known : — 



67 

"Treatise on Churcli Coveriiiiient, being a Narrative of the 
late Troubles and Transactions in the Church in Bolton, Mass. 
Renjarks on Mr. Adams' 8ermon Aug. 2(j, 177"2, with(II.)sonie 
Remarks on an Account in the Boston Ercnhttj Pont Dec. 28, 
1772, of the Di-sniiss-ion of a Minister in Gratton, and(lll.)0n 
Councils, with an Essay on Ministers Negativing the Votes of 
the Church — By a Neighbor: pp. .'^7 : Boston 1773. 

A Second Treatise on Church Government. Reply to Adams 
Answer, &c. 12": Boston, 1773. 

The Civil State Compared to Rivers — A -Discourse in the 
Second Parish of Sutton Mass., Jan. 17, 1773, the day prece- 
ding Town Meeting to consider and act upon the Letter from 
Boston, 12": Boston, 1773. » 

The Godly Fathers and a Defence of Their people — A ser- 
mon Delivered April 19, 1772, at Uxbridge, on the Death of 
Rev. Nathan Webb: Boston, 1773. 

Result of an Ecclsiastical Council ; 1793. 

A Treatise on the Nature and Importane of the Sacrament — 
12° Worcester: 1802. 

Modern Pharisaism Illustrated and Proved, by Timothy 
Truth Esq., To which is Annexed A Concise Review of Elisha 
Andrews' Brief Reply to Bickerstaff's Short Epistle to the Bap- 
tists : By Christopher Duntaxet LL. D. : Sutton, 1811." 




68 

The meeting for July falling on the 4th, was b}^ 
adjournment held on the 5th. Phinehas Bates Jr. 
Esq. of Boston was elected a Corresponding Member, 
and Charles W. Rice of Worcester was elected to 
active membership. 

The President announced the names of members 
assigned to the new Department of Military History.* 

Mr Daniel Seagrave exhibited a mortar brought 
over in the Mayflower, by Elder William Brewster, 
and now owned by Mr. Joseph Brewster Knox of 
Worcester. It is deposited with the Society for safe 
keeping. 



The third annual excursion of the Worcester So- 
ciety of Antiquity on Saturday, July Sth, found a 
happy selection in the beautiful historic town of Lei- 
cester, one of the oldest "Academy Towns" of New 
England which, unlike many of the villages of the 
former period, retains its old characteristics, with 
such infusion and increase from the enterprise of the 
present day, that it is progressive, well kept, with 
all its former prestige unimpaired. 

The purpose of these summer excursions does not 
altogether dismiss the idea of pleasure hunting, but 
when among other delightful adjuncts are found pre- 

* See "Departments of Work" for 1882. 



69 

sented historic features of interest situated in tbeir 
own locality and from originals, the success is sure 
to be complete. This was eminently the case with 
the visit to Leicester. , 

Its ease of access from Worcester met the con- 
venience of many members, by making it a half-day 
programme, and at 1 P. M. the fully loaded barges 
left the Society's rooms on Foster street and in less 
than hour the party were safely landed on Leicester 
Hill where an unexpected surprise awaited them in 
a thoroughly complete organization of the citizens 
for their reception and entertainment. A commit- 
tee, among them Rev. Messrs. Coolidge and May, 
Messrs. C. C. Denny, Charles A. Denny, Joseph 
Murdock, Dr. H. P. Wakefield, L. D. Thurston, H. 
L. Watson and Parkman Denny were in attendance, 
with numerous ladies, and the Society found them- 
selves at once at home and among friends. 

By an exercise of excellent skill and zeal there 
had been assembled in Memorial Hall a very notably 
excellent collection of antiquities, household treas- 
ures and relics of the past from the old-time homes, 
or through other ownerships from first possessors, 
which was of exceeding interest. The committee 
cannot forego a brief recount of some of these, the 
following being of especial interest: 

A large oil painting — a view of Worcester from 
Denny Hill, painted in 1800 by Ralph Earle, who 
was born in Leicester in 1751, and was the grand- 
son of the first Ralph, one of the original colony. 



70 

He was a pupil of Benjamin West, and a member of 
the Royal Academy of London. The picturji has 
the spire of the Old South Church and the tower of 
the Court House in view, wliile Shrewsbury meeting- 
house is in the distant east. A set of tiny silver tea- 
spoons, made by Thomas Earle for Ruth Sargent, 
who married Col. William Henshaw in 1762. A 
pewter platter, belonging to Mrs. John Taylor in 
1748, who kept a tavern where Dexter Knight's 
house now stands; the tavern was burned in 1767, 
and this "piece of plate" was saved. David Hen- 
shaw's shoes, and shoes worn by Mrs. Buckminster 
of Rutland, wife of the parson, in 1780, were curious 
relics. The gun carried by Col. William Henshaw 
when he went to Cambridge at the outbreak of the 
Revolution was also shown. It is related that Gen. 
Washington was so much pleased with the Aveapon 
that he wanted one like it, and Thomas Earle of 
Cherry Vallej'- made one which he carried, on foot, 
to New York, to deliver. He was disappointed at 
his reception, the General being very busy, and only 
hastilv ulancino- ut the ii;un, ordered it to be ])aid 
for. Later, on learning of Mr. Earle's care in mak- 
ing the gun, and his long journey to deliver it, the 
General wrote him a handsome letter of thanks. 

The old lock of the Leicester Bank, a ponderous 
piece of machinerj^ and an equally aged padlock 
with a concealed keyhole, were eagerly .examined. 
Tiles from the house of Col. William Henshaw, built 
in 1770, and shoes of 1772 were shown, also a quan- 



71 

tit y of the iiiaiui scripts of Rev. Ebenezer Parkmaii, 
first minister at Westborough, 1721, the writing of 
which is so fine as to need a ghiss for reading by 
modern eyes. His music book, in manuscript, was 
also shown. It is about l\ bv 3 inches in si/e, and 
is a marvel of clear and distinct work with the pen. 
The folloAving lines, painted on the first town clock, 
are also of interest: 

"I serve ve here with all mv mioht : 
I tell the hour by day and night. 
Therefore warning take of me. 
And serve thy God as T servo thee !" 

The largest and most valuable portion of this dis- 
play Avas contributed by Miss H. E. Henshaw, and 
illustrated the career of her grandfather, Col. \Vm. 
HenshaM', of Revolutionary fame, who was Adjutant 
General of the Massachusetts forces under General 
Ward for about nine months. His grand-daughter, 
Miss H. E. Henshaw, has three volumes of his offi- 
cial records and order books, including the orders 
relative to the battle of Bunker Hill. One of these 
has been published by the Mass. Historical Society. 
She also has his journal of the expedition to Canada, 
in the French war. 

Several aged people were present, and seemed 
much interested in the visit and in the objects of the 
Society. Among these was Mr. Baldwin Watts, 83 
years of age ; he has a sister, ten years older, still 
living in the town. 



72 

Memorial Hall and its fine collection of books, 
well kept and well used, received the highest com- 
mendation, and greatly honors this excellent com- 
munity. After an hour of informal examination and 
investigation Rev. Mr. Coolidge made an address of 
welcome. 

He said the town is not one of the old towns, al- 
though it has celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth 
anniversary. Other towns have passed their two 
hundredth anniversary, and thereby leave Leicester 
quite juvenile. Here the Towtaid Indians roamed, 
here are many interesting relics of the Revolution. 
The town held its first meeting a year before the first 
was held in Worcester, and was read}- to act when 
the first call to arms was issued. Here was one of 
the concealed depots of ammunition during the war. 
Col. William Henshaw of Leicester was Adjutant 
General of the Massachusetts forces under General 
Ward for nine months after General Washington 
took command of the army. We have here his or- 
der-books covering most of the time ; also the musket 
he carried to Boston, and his diary kept during the 
campaign to Caucida in the French, war in 1759, 
He exhibited Col. Henshaw's commission as Lieu- 
tenant in the French war; a list of his company who 
marched with him from Leicester to Canada: also 
the list of members of Capt. Whiting's detachment 
and Col. Ruggles' battalion of the same date; Col. 
Henshaw's commission as Adjutant of the Massachu- 
setts forces &c. Mr. Coolidge also exhibited the 



7»> 



records of the enrly proprietors of the town in sev- 
erjil thick volumes; ;ui indenture of apprenticeship, 
1747; some licenses issued to hotel keej^ers, with 
the ticcompanying oaths of allegiance to the state 
and the United states; a bill of lading in the 
schooner Delight, bound to Antiqua, Gaudeloupe, 
and various other curious ancient matter. 

Ellery B. Crane Esq., President of the Society of 
Antiquity, responded in a happy manner, expressing 
the Society's grateful appreciation of the generisity 
displayed by so many interested citizens of Leicester. 

Before the company were seated in the hall their 
number was largely increased by the arrival of 
numerous prominent Worcester citizens and their 
ladies, making the full delegation . from our city a 
notably large one. Among these gentlemen were 
his Honor, Mayor E. B. Stoddard, a former pupil of 
Leicester Academy, and A. P. Marble Esq. Superin- 
tendent of the Worcester schools, also Manning 
Leonard Esq. and B. A. Leonard of Southbridge. 

Deacon C. C. Denny of Leicester then read a brief 
historical sketch of the town. It was purchased by 
nine gentlemen of Roxbury, whose records are still 
preserved, and were exhibited. The first settle- 
ment was in 1714. The first burial place was in the 
rear of the first meeting house, and the bottom of a 
coffin, from this burial ground, was shown. In 1765, 
Benj. Tucker deeded a burial place to a company of 
citizens, which was called "the old burial place." 
Daniel Denny, who came here in 1716, left money 



74 

for another burial place, near the meetmg house. 
This was the fifth public burial ground laid out in 
the town. In Leicester, in 1830, only 237 people 
were taxed, the valuation being $286,000; in 1880 
there there were 505 tax payers, and the valuation 
was 992,000; only 17 of the owners of real estate 
in 1830, or their descendants, had possession of it 
fifty years after that date, and only five farms in the 
town are owned or occupied by the descendants 
of those who occupied them one hundred years 
ago. In 1830 four persons only of foreign birth 
were taxed for real estate; in 1880 there were 165. 
Fifty years ago 17 families of the name of Earle 
were taxed here ; now there is but one. 

Hon. E. B. Stoddard, Mayor of Worcester was 
called out, and made a pleasant address, alluding to 
his membership with Leicester Academy 35 years 
ago, and spoke tenderly of the infiuence of the Rev. 
Dr. Nelson, upon the character of the town. He 
said the relics exhibited here to-day indicate how 
much of value and interest may be saved by any 
one, if only pains are taken. Every one can recall 
matters occurring in early life, relics and records of 
which are already lost, because no care was taken 
to preserve them. Local societies like this one are 
very valuable, and he expressed satisfaction in its 
prosperity, and pleasure at its cordial reception in 
Leicester. He intimated that such an interesting; 
occasion would bear to be repeated. 



75 

Hon. Clark Jillson, ex-Major of Worcester, and 
ex-President of the Society, spoke of his satisfaction 
in being present on such a delightful occasion, and 
alluded to the many choice relics on exhibition, and 
to the importance of their preservation. He also 
alluded to the notable generosity of the citizens of 
Leicester, in making such ample provision for the 
entertainment of the Society. 

During his remarks he called attention to a name 
upon one of the Memorial Tablets, erected by the 
town in memory of Leicester's patriotic soldiers who 
died in defence of a Nation's life during the rebellion 
of 186 L Hiram Streeter was his schoolmate and 
friend, and when the town was struggling to fill its 
([uota he went to Worcester with a determination to 
enlist as a private in the 57th Regiment. He there 
called upon his old friend wdio questioned the pro- 
priety of his leaving his family and home without 
further consideration. His reply was, "/ have deci- 
ded that it is wy duty to defend my country if I die in 
so doing." Leicester is honored in perpetuating the 
memory other soldiers. 

Albert P. Marble Pii. D., Superintendent of the 
Worcester schools, spoke of the intluence of acade- 
mies in the scheme of public education, and felt sure 
that academies and high schools are both needed. 
He also congratulated the Leicester people on their 
excellent educational facilities. 

Mr. AV. S. Wood, Superintendent of schools in 
Seymour, Lid., was called u^Don, and expressed his 



76 

pleasure in the gathering, which he said was impos- 
sible in the West, where a man who has lived in a 
place five years is considered an old settler. 

Mr. George Sumner, Vice-President of the Society, 
was introduced and made af)propriate remarks upon 
the object of the meeting and its success. 

Dr. Wakefield made a very pleasant speech and 
gave an interesting sketch of the topography of the 
town, and of the common land in the centre, which 
was originally five acres. He also gave some sug- 
gestions in regard to the earlier meeting-houses, and 
school buildings. 

General A. B. R. Sprague, Sheriff of Worcester 
County, made a brief but interesting speech, expres- 
sing his pleasure at the gathering, and his interest 
in the Societ^^ and its work. He alluded to the later 
history of Leicester, and to its contributions to the 
army of the Union, and urged that all historical 
material be carefully cherished and preserved. 

One feature of greatest interest in the day was the 
Leicester Academy, the structure being then in a 
well advanced and thorough stage of repairs and re- 
fitting for the new era of its existence, since success- 
fully entered upon. This work was examined with 
much interest by the visitors, and they were highly 
delighted in listening to a charming historical sketch 
of the Academy, prepared for the occasion, by Rev. 
Samuel May of Leicester, as follows: 



LEICESTER ACADEMY. 



By EEV. SAMUEL MAY. 



Leicester Acadeni}' may be fairl}' called "an ancient seat of 
learning," — if there can be onght ancient in so young a country 
as ours, — aiad so a proper subject for a "Society of Antiquity" 
to consider. In two 3'ears from this time it will complete a cen- 
tury of existence. During that century it has filled a large place 
in educating the youth of the "Heart of the Commonwealth," as 
Worcester County has long been called, and indeed a much 
larger area. It is the oldest Academy in the State away from 
the seaboard. Only Dummer Academy in Byfield, founded in 
1756, and Phillips Academy in Andover, founded in 1777, are 
its seniors. Its educational position and repute have always 
compared favorably with those well known seminaries, and with 
Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire ; and the work it 
has done has been of a like character with theirs, with the addi- 
tion that it has from the beginning done this work for both 
young men and ^oung women. 

At the close of onr revolutionary war, the means of popular 
education in Massachusetts, which had alwaj-s been scant, had 
become reduced to a low point. To those who thoughtfully 
reflected on the future of the young country, which henceforth 
must cease to look to the "mother country" for professional 
and educational guides, the prospect was dark. Something 
must be done to meet this radical deficiency, and there was no 
time to be lost. The new state had indeed the best material to 
build upon and to l)uild with a population for the most part of 
unmixed Anglo-Saxon descent, moulded by the influences of a 
peculiar religious training and tried in the school of stern con- 
test with hardships and adversit}'. The churches and pulpits 



78 



had always been powerful educating influences. The minister, 
who was chosen by the town in concurrence with the church, was 
invariably an educated man , and could always be depended upon 
to aid every impulse and effort towards good learning. But the 
poverty of the means and resourses for i'c7iOo/nt,(7 of any kind, 
was appalling. Harvard College, the only college in the State, 
gave a respectable preparation to a small number of young men 
designed for the three learned professions of the time : two or 
three academies struggled to hold their own ; the common 
schools were few for the need, kept for short periods, taught 
by persons usually of good native sense and gifts, but of very 
limited training, poorly paid, and mostly compelled to resort to 
other labors also for a maintenance. Such, as we are obliged 
to conclude from the recorded history of the time, was the state 
of things in this vicinity at the period spoken of — the close of 
the war of 1776-1 7S3 ; in spite of all which, there existed a 
prevailing sturdy good sense and a degree of intelligence, which 
must always challenge admiration and often excite surprise. 

No school of advanced education existed in Worcester Coun- 
ty, — unless Lancaster may be an exception, — until Leicester 
Academy was founded. And its foundations were not laid by 
Leicester hands, although Leicester hands were not backward 
in the up-building. In the brief time allowed for the sketch, I 
attempt little more than an outline — imperfect at that — of what 
the late Governor Washburn, a native and a most loyal son of 
of this town, has furnished for us in his History of Leicester 
Academy. 

Colonel Ebenezer Crafts of Sturbridge, — born in Pomfret, 
Conn, — was tlie real founder of Leicester Academy. Before 
the war bi'oke out, with foresight, he had raised and organized 
a company of cavalry ; with which, as its captain, he joined the 
army at Cambridge in 177-"). He continued in active service near 
Boston, until the place was evacuated by the British army in 
March, 1776. When the war closed, in 1783, he turned his at- 
tention, with characteristic promptness, to the correction of the 
evil of which he had long been avvare, namely, the low state of 
education among the people all about him, which had been made 
worse by the inevitable effect of an exhausting war of seven 



79 

years' continuance. The purpose of establishing an Academy 
had lono; been nuilurinii in his mind. He enlisted his friend, 
Col. Jacob Davis of Charlton, in the scheme; and an estate 
with a good building upon it in the centre of Leicester, being 
then for sale, they bought it in the Spring of 17.S3 at public 
auction for the sum of £ol5 lo"; and, after some delays, they 
obtained an act of incorporation, and made a free gift of the 
estate, for the purposes of an Academy, to the trustees .named 
in the incorporating act, who were gentlemen of Sturbridge, 
Charlton, Leicester, Worcester, Spencer, Brookfield, and Brim-' 
field. A portrait of Col. Crafts hangs in the Academy Hall. 

The building thus purchased, and devoted thenceforth to the 
purposes of education, had belonged to Mr. Aaron Lopez, a 
wealthy Jew merchant of Newport, R. L, who had retreated with 
his family to Leicester, at the outbreak of the war, and-remain- 
ed here until near its close. He had purchased an acre of land 
of what is now the south-easterly portion of our common, and 
erected, close upon the present main road, a two-story building 
of wood, of unusual size and appearance, for the two-fold pur- 
pose of a residence and a store. Gov. Washburn describes the 
building, partly from recollection, as about 75 feet feet in length 
on the street, and as having six rooms on the lower floor, three 
in front, three in the rear. Rev. Dr. Pierce of Brookline, 
(H. U. 17i):3, who died 1849) a preceptor here 1793-1795, de- 
scribed it as ''an oblong, barrack-looking building." The cen- 
tre front- room was much the largest, and was the Jew mer- 
chant's store-house. These rooms were not over seven and a 
half feet high, and the two corner ones were small. Neverthe- 
less here, for some twenty years, Leicester Academy was kept, 
amidst inconveniences and drawbacks such as would be deemed 
intolerable now. Here faithful instructors discharged their high 
ortice with zeal and dilligence, and here many young men and 
women laid the foundation of future success and honor, and in 
many cases of eminence. Little or no change was made in the 
building to adapt it to school uses. The store, or centre room, 
became the ''commons" or eating room, and the place for all 
exercises of declamation and the like. The corner rooms were 
the school rooms, the south-west being for the classical depart- 



80 

ment, the south-east for the English. Rev. Dr. Pierce, writing 
his reminiscences, says: "Over the Latin (or classical) school 
was a chamber, in which the principal and myself occupied the 
same bed, for the two years we were together. Not only so, 
when a college friend was to pass the night with us, we all 
three slept together." 

Before the school could be opened, indeed before it could get 
its incorporation, it was made obligatory on its founders to raise 
the sum of One Thousand pounds (about $3300.), exclusive of 
the real estate, for its endowment. 

Immediate appeal for the sum was made. Gov. Washburn 
says, "It found general favor in the County, and enlisted the 
zeal and active sympathy of man}- of its prominent citizens." 
"Among these" he saj's "was the late Isaiah Thomas Esq., the 
publisher and proprietor of the Massachusetts Spy, who rendered 
efficient aid by the influence of that paper." The Spy of Nov. 
6, 1783, announced that "there would soon be opened at Leices- 
ter, an Academy for the purpose of promoting the sciences," 
and an appeal was made "to the people of this large county to 
exert themselves to second the endeavors of those gentlemen 
who have laid this generous and laudable plan for public educa- 
tion." It was further stated that "this academy vvill be opened 
in that large and elegant house lately occupied by Mr. Aaron 
Lopez, a situation particularly advantageous for this purpose." 
In a subsequent paper, an appeal was made, "to set on foot a 
subscription, through the count}' at least, in favor of our infant 
academy." One minister of tlie County, Rev. Joseph Buck- 
minster of Rutland, preached upon the subject, and in his dis- 
course, "on Thanksgiving day of that year, addressed his con- 
gregation, in strong terms, upon the importance of lending their 
aid to the proposed institution." His remarks were published 
in the Spy. Was it an accidental coincidence, that, long years 
after Mr. Buckminster made this thoughtful appeal, the largest 
contribution which the Academy had ever received came from 
a native son of Rutland, (James Smith Esq.) or was it indeed 
another verification of the promise, given to every true and dis- 
interested worker that 

"Though seed lie long in earth, 
It shan't deceive the hope ?" 



81 

To make up the required £1000, the town of Leicester pledged 
one half, on condition that the Academy should not be removed 
from town ; and the remaining half was contributed by individ- 
uals of different places; Lieut. (Jov. (Jill of Princeton giving 
£150 ; Col. Thos. Denny and Capt. Thos. Newhall of Leicester, 
£100 each ; Jeduthan Baldwin of Brooktield, £100 ; Reuben 
Swan of Leicester, £50 : Dr. Austin Flint of Leicester, land of 
the value of $160; Joseph Allen and Timothy Bigelow of Wor- 
cester, each £30 ; Isaiah Thon)as of Worcester, £20, and others. 

The act of incorporation was passed March 23, 1784, and the 
Trustees met and organized on the 7th of April. Hon. Moses 
Gill, (Lieut. Gov., and subsequently' acting Gov. of the State) 
was elected President of the Trustees, Rev. Benjamin Conklin 
of Leicester, Vice-President, Rev. Joseph Pope of Spencer, 
Secretary, Joseph Allen Esq. of Worcester, Treasurer, and Col. 
Ebenezer Crafts of Sturbridge, Steward and Butler. This last 
is rather to be viewed as a compliment to him, as he never re- 
sided in Leicester, while he always kept a lively interest in the 
Academy's welfare. 

Benjamin Stone was engaged as principal Preceptor, and the 
school was opened on Monday June 7, 1784, with three pupils, 
to wit, Samuel C. Crafts and Ephraim Allen of Sturbridge, and 
Samuel .Swan of Leicester. Soon after, Eli Whitney of West- 
borough, whose name as an inventor has since been so univer- 
sally known, joined the school, and the number of pupils during 
the term rose to twenty. In the second, or autumn term, with 
two Preceptors — Mr. Thomas Parson being in the English de- 
partment — the number rose to between sevent}' and eighty. 

The first scholar fitted for college was the aforesaid Samuel C. 
Crafts, son of Col. Ebenezer Crafts. He was graduated at 
Cambridge in 1790, went iramediatel}' with his father to Ver- 
mont, aided him in founding the town of Craftsbury, was for 
sixteen years Judge and Chief Justice of one of the courts, was 
Governor of the State two years, and a Representative and 
Senator in Congress, "commanding the respect and esteem of 
all." He died in 1853, at the age of eighty-five. Being the 
first of nearly five thousand 3'oung persons, who have resorted 
to Leicester Academ}- for an education, this brief notice of him 
will doubtless be of interest. 



82 

The salary of the Principal was at first £50. — only $167 — and 
he was to be "at the expense of his own support." When Mr. 
(afterward Dr.) Pierce was here, ten ^ears later, his salary was 
£60. ($200) and the second 3'ear $250. For years the Academy- 
struggled for its life, and at times seemed on the point of utter 
failure. But "help came, though slowl}'," and "it has never 
failed" sa^-s Gov. AVashburn, writing in 1855, "to supply the 
aid of a well-regulated and well-diciplined school, under teach- 
ers of competent and often eminent qualifications." 

This paper allows no opportunity- of a detailed statement of 
the course of stud}', which continued to steadily- advance with 
the growth of knowledge, and as the public needs became man- 
ifest. In 1798, for the first time, globes, a microscope, an 
electrical machine, a thermometer, and a set of surveying in- 
struments, were procured. The study' of Chemistrj', in a small 
wa}', was introduced in 1813. In 1823, the sum of five hundred 
dollars was given, b}- residents of Leicester, to procure philo- 
sophical and astronomical apparatus. Instruction in French 
was given in 1828, 

Very earl}' the custom of an Annual Exhibition was estab- 
lised, and the scholars soon began to give dramatic performan- 
ces in connexion with the same. Thus, in 17i)(), we learn that 
Addison's "Cato" was acted entire ; and the late Hon. Abijah 
Bigelow of Worcester, was one of the boy-performers. Rev. 
Dr. Pierce sa3's, "Plays were acted in the meeting-house, which 
was crowded to its full capacity," and he gives an amusing ac- 
count of one called "The Scolding Wife," in which, to quote his 
own words, "the heroine acted her part to universal admiration." 

From the commencement of the school pupils were admitted 
of both sexes ; and says Washburn, "the Trustees and the pre- 
ceptors seem to have understood, — what is now so well settled — 
that, in educational training, the same intellectual processes 
were to be pursued with one sex as with the other ; antl there- 
fore they adopted the same system of text-books and instruction 
for each," and he emphasizes the "success" which, he says, has 
"always distinguished this S3'stem." 

In May, 1835, the Trustees voted to employ a female teacher 
which raised the number of teachers to four, and this continued 



83 

many years. Miss Elizabeth Holmes was the tirst of these. She 
held the positiou from l<s.'5;> to 1<S4!S, thirteen years, to general 
acceptance; and her death, in l.s4'J, was attended with every 
mark of regret and respect. 

A brief list of some of the benefactors of the Academy, sub- 
sequent to the original ones already named, here follows : 

In Ibll, Capt. Thomas Newhall of Leicester, gave $1,000. 
In l(S2-i, Capt. Israel Waters of Charlton gave b}' will about 
$<S,OOU. In 1831, Isaiah Thomas Esq. of Worcester, gave by 
will $5,000. In 1845, Hon. Daniel AValdo of Worcester, gave 
by will $(!,yOO. In 1852, James Smith Esq. of Philadelphia, 
gave $10,000, and at his death, by will, the further sum of 
15,000 making his total gift $25,000. 

Portraits of Capt. Waters, of Isaiah Thomas Esq., of Hon. 
Daniel Waldo, and of James Smith Esq. are in the principal hall 
of the academy. 

Mr. Smith, with his tirst donation, made the condition that 
$5,000 more should be subscribed by the friends of the Academy. 
This was done : about $o,000 of the amount being contributed 
in Leicester, and the remainder from Worcester, Spencer, Ox- 
ford, Princeton, Dorchester, Boston, New Haven, and New 
York. Of the amount given in Leicester, $1,000 was from 
the late Joseph Addison Denny, of whom a portrait is in the 
Academy Hall. Capt. Waters' gift the first and only one to 
which a theological condition was attached. He required that 
the instructor or instructors, to receive the benefit, should be 
"of the Congregational Calvinistic order." 

Many things of interest must here be wholly passed. But the 
fact that in obtaining funds in the early da3'S of the Academy's 
existence, recourse was twice had to a, 2iublic lottery, hy leave of 
the Legislature, is too curious to be omitted. 

But the old Jew Merchant's building had become entirely 
inadequate to the Academ3''s needs, and had fallen into decay 
besides. The Trustees bought more land, in the rear of their 
estate, in 1804 ; and on the 15th day of May, 1805, the corner 
stone was laid of a large, commodious, and handsome building, 
on the site of the present one ; the Rev. Dr. Sumner of Shrews- 
bury, then President, conducting the services, which were with 



84 

much ceremony and impressiveness. The old building was sold 
for a trifling sum, and removed. A portion of it still stands on 
Pleasant street, occupied as a dwelling house by Mr. George 
Hatch. The new building which was of wood was dedicated 
July 4, 1806, the Rev. Dr. Sumner ofl"ering the prayer and the 
Rev. Dr. Bancroft of Worcester delivering "An Oration upon 
Education." This building, which had cost upwards of $9,000, 
equal perhaps to double the amount now, proved to have been 
unfaithfall}' built, and was a constant source of trouble, in all 
weathers, so that, in 1832, when it was but 26 years old, it was 
decided to take it down and erect another in its place. 

The present brick building is the successor of that dedicated 
in 1806. It was built in 1832, at a cost of $10,000, and was 
dedicated in 1833. Considerable sums have been expended 
upon it, from time to time. For nearl}' lift}' 3'ears a large and 
flourishing school has been maintained in it, usualh' with four 
regular teachers ; having also a residence in it for the principal 
and his family, rooms for the teachers, man}' dormitories for 
scholars, and a boarding-house. In the lapse of the half cen- 
tury, it has come to need extensive alterations and repairs ; and 
these are now in progress, at a cost of some $6,000. 

When the present meeting-house of the Firet Congregational 
Society was built, in 1866, the old meeting-house was sold to 
the Trustees of the Academy-, who removed it to the rear of the 
Academy, converting it into dormitories for scholars, and a 
gymnasium with extensive apparatus. The present funds for 
the endowment of the Academy- amount to $50,000. 

The names of some of the leading persons in the government 
of the Academy are as follows: — Hon. Moses Gill, Hon. Levi 
Lincoln, Senior, Rev. Dr. Joseph Sumner, Rev. Di'. Aaron 
Bancroft, Gov. Levi Lincoln, Hon. Seth Washburn. Rev. Benj. 
Conklin, Rev. Zephaniah S. Moore, Rev. John Nelson, an ex- 
cellent likeness of whom is in the Academy hall ; Hon. Dwight 
Foster, Rev. Joseph Pope, Hon. Joseph Allen, Hon, Abijah Big- 
elow. Col. Thomas Denn}', Dr. Austin Flint, Hon. Nath'l P. 
Denny, Hon. Daniel AYaldo, Samuel M. Burnside Esq., Alfred 
D. Foster Esq., Rev. Dr. Horatio Bardwell, Hon. Emory Wash- 
burn, Ichabod Washbui-n Esq., Joseph A. Denny Esq., Hon. 



85 



Thos. Kinuicutt,— all well known citizens of Worcester County. 

Among the teachers not now living, have been Ebenezer Ad- 
ams, afterwards Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philoso- 
phy, in Dartmouth College ; Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, 
afterwards President of Williams College ; Hon. Bradford Sum- 
ner, John Richardson, Rev. Josiah Clark, father and son. Rev. 
Dr. John Pierce, Rev. Theodore Dehon, afterwards bishop of 
South Carolina ; Dr. James Jackson, Dr. John Dixwell, Dr. 
George C- Shattuck, Hon. Timothy Fuller, Hon. AValdo Flint, 
Hon. Pernor}- Washburn, Charles S. Henrj', Luther Wright, Al- 
van II. Washburn, Charles A. Wetmore, and, if one still living 
ma}- be named, Hon. William W, Rice, our present Representa- 
tive in Congress. 

Prominent among the pupils of the Academy, in addition to 
Gov. Crafts of Vermont, and Eli Whitney the inventor, were 
Hon. William L, Marcy, Secretary of State of the United States ; 
Hon. William Upham, a Senator from Vermont ; Rev. Gardi- 
ner Spring, D. D., Hon. John Davis, Governor of Massachu- 
setts ; Hon. Ebenezer Lane, a Chief Justice of Ohio ; Colonel 
Thomas Aspinwall, for many years U. S. Consul at London ; 
Hon. David Henshaw. Secretary of the Nav}^ of the United 
States ; Rev. George Allen, Hon. Charles Allen, member of 
Congress and Judge ; Hon. Pliny Merrick and Hon. Benjamin 
F. Thomas, Judges of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts ; 
Dr. Levi Hedge, Professor of Logic and Philosophy in Harvard 
College ; to which should be added, with special honor for the 
many good works he has done in the Academy's behalf, the Hon. 
Emory Washburn, Governor, Judge, Law Professor in Harvard 
College, &c. "And if to these I were to add," says Mr. Wash- 
burn, "the names of those once pupils of the Academy, who 
have made their influence felt as the graceful, and dignified, and 
gifted wives and mothers of the leading men of their da}-, the 
task, though a pleasant one, would require a degree of time and 
labor which is not now at my command." 

The Centennial of Leicester Academy approaches ; its friends, 
who then shall be living, will assemble in the spring of 1884, to 
celebrate that event, to recount its various fortunes, and to 
speak of the inestimable services it has rendered, in the cause 



86 

of good learning, to this communit}-, to the Commonwealth, 
and to a much wider circle, during its first one hundred years. 
It will be a good day for the old and honored school ; for it will 
tell of a history which began earlier than the form of govern- 
ment under which we are now living, a history which began 
immediately after the war for the independence of America had 
closed ; and it will commemorate the labors of men sharing 
largely- the patriotic and unselfish spirit which carried the coun- 
tr}- through the long, weary years of the war. It will tell of 
Ebenezer Crafts and of Jacob Davis who, prompted, it is hardl}' 
too muchto say inspired, by the love of country and a high pur- 
pose to do something to save it from the fatal consequences of 
ignorance and its allied evils, (being resolved, in the words of 
the early Puritans, that "learning shall not be buried in the gra- 
ves of our fathers,") came to this town, purchased building and 
land, and gave it a free gift forever, to the cause of education ; 
selecting this place, I am sure, not whoU}' from the accidental 
circumstance of a suitable building being for sale, but also be- 
cause of the eminent character of leading citizens here, whose 
services throught the Revolution had honored Leicester, and had 
placed the names of Allen, Ilenshaw, Washburn, Green, Conk- 
lin, Sargent, Denny, Newhall, Livermore, Ward, and others, 
high on the roll of worthies, both in council and in the field. 
It will tell of the liberal response which this town, though crip- 
pled by the war, made to the call for aid to the new-born scJiooi. 
It will tell of the generous donations of many men and women. 
It will tell of the long line of instructors, whose modest and 
patient labors here proved a lasting blessing to a long array of 
pupils ; and of the many men who have gladly and freely given, 
as Trustees, invaluable time and service, to build up the Acade- 
my, and to nourish its growth. It will be an honorable story, 
of which neither the Academy, nor the count}, nor the town 
will need to be ashamed. The Acadeni}', and its great constit- 
uency of pupils and friends, need not hesitate to admit any 
errors or defects which may have attended its administration in 
the past, for such are inseparable from human afif'airs ; but they 
can truly say that these, if such there were, were exceptions to 



8' 

its large mid beuelicent career ; and they can point, with hon- 
orable pride, to the great company of citizens, useful and emi- 
nent in all walks of life, men and women of the highest charac- 
ter, who went forth from Leicester Acadeni}-, and who, wher- 
ever thev have lived, have been of "the salt of the earth." 



It is easy to be won from things of the past when 
the present puts forward claims like those of the ice- 
cream and strawberry collation furnished in Memo- 
rial Hall by the hospitable people of Leicester, and 
not to rend too suddenly and entirely the historic 
associations of the hour the graceful and pleasant 
young ladies' committee, Misses Emma Pierce, Sara 
Coolido;e, Marv Coolidgre, Belle Hatch and Ruth 
Hatch, who ministered at the feast, were attired in 
the silks and brocades of their grandmothers' days, 
with high combs, powdered hair and face patches, — 
a charming reproduction of the antique. 

After the collation the party went to Mount Pleas- 
ant, a short mile from the town, where a magnificent 
view of the surrounding country was enjoyed. They 
also had the pleasure of examining the house of Mr. 
Tarleton, built in 1771, by Joseph Henshaw, a Bos- 
ton merchant, as a country seat. Its original wain- 
scots, cornices, balustrades, &c., were exanined with 
much interest. This place was once the residence 
of an eccentric individual, Lewis Allen, who came 
from Shrewsbury. He was a tory of the rankest sort 
dui'ing the revolution. It is related of him that in 



88 

accordance with his own desire he was buried near 
the house, and close beside the road, "so that he 
could hear the news from Boston as the stages went 
by." A brief visit was also made to the Cemetery 
just west of the centre, where dates as far back as 
1740 were found upon headstones. 

Returning to the village the party stopped at the 
residence of Mr. L. D. Thurston, and examined with 
great interest a rare old clock, the property of Mrs. 
Joseph A. Denny. Its case is ornamented with 
quaint raised figures in Chinese designs, and its 
metal-dial tells the hour, the day of the month and 
the age of the moon, while at the top is a group of 
sun, moon and stars, which move regularly. It was 
brought from England by Thomas Prince, 1714- 
1717. When the late owner, Mr. J. A, Denny, was 
in England, a few years ago, he endeavored to de- 
termine the age of the clock, and found the descend- 
ants of its maker, Thomas Wagstafi', making just 
such clocks in London, in the location occupied by 
the family for centuries. His story of the clock 
prompted them to the examination of their family 
records, kept in rusty iron boxes, and it was found 
that the Thomas Wagstafi' who made the clock died 
in 1610, which settles its rank to the title of the 
oldest clock in this vicinity. 

The party left Leicester at 7: 40, with cheers for 
their generous entertainers, and reached the city an 
hour later, driving to the rooms, where a brief meet- 
ing was held, at which President Crane thanked the 



89 

iiieuibers and friends lor their attendance and co- 
operation ; and a coniniittee, including Messrs. H. M. 
Smith, Clark Jillson, H. L. Slmmway, F. P. Rice and 
William H. Bartlett, Avere appointed to prepare and 
transmit a, formal expression of the thanks of the 
Society to the people of Leicester for their generous 
assistance in securing the success of the excursion. 
The committee repoi-tde the following resolution : — 

'He sol red. That The Worcester Society of Antiquity desires 
to expresp to the Citizens' Committee Jind residents of Leicester, 
their appreciation of the graceful hospitalities and generous and 
hearty co-operation which made the visit of this Society to 
Leicester on Saturday, July 8th, an occasion long to be remem- 
bered. Leicester will never fail to retain its long honored place 
as an educational centre, and its delightful home associations, 
so long as its citizens cherish, as at present, a worthy pride in 
the past of the beautiful town, and prove themselves worthy to 
maintain and carry forward the work so well begun in the earlj' 
dav. 



The September meeting was held on the 5th inst. 
seventeen persons being in attendance. An assess- 
ment of $1,00 per member was voted, to defray the 
expense of publishing the Proceedings of the Society 
for the current year. 

A special meeting was held Sept. 19th, at which 
the death of Mr. William Howard Bigelow of New 
Haven, Conn., an active member of the Society, was 
announced, by President Crane. The biographical 
sketch of the deceased, furnished for the annals of 



90 

the Societ}^ by himself, was read by Mr. Albert A. 
Lovell, together with a memorial. Both were or- 
dered printed in the Proceedings. 

SKETCH OF WILLIAM H. BIGELOW. 



WRITTEN BY HIMSEUF. 



Win, Howard Bigelow was born in Easton, Washington Co. 
N. Y., Dec. 21, 1829. He was in the eighth generation from 
John Bigelow who immigrated from Sutfollv, England, about the 
3'ear 1636, and settled in Watertown, Mass., where he died July 
14, 1703. 

LINE OF ANCESTOR!". 

Through Joshua of Watertown, son of John ; born Nov. Tn 
1655 ; died Feb 21, 1745. Through John, son of Joshua, who 
settled in Colchester, Conn, between the }ears 1706 and 1701) ; 
born Dec. 2, 1681 ; died March 8, 1770. Through David, son 
of John, who lived two miles south of Marlboro Center, Conn. : 
born 1706 ; died June 2, 1799. Through David, son of David, 
who lived about one mile to the N. E. of Marlboro centre, Ct. ; 
born May 7, 1732; died Oct. 6, 1820. Through Erastus. son 
of David, who married Lucy Root of Marlboro. Conn.. June 1. 
1789, and emigrated to Easton. Washington Co. N. Y.. where 
he cleared a farm in the heavy native forest, built saw-mills. 
and for many years manufactured lumber which was rafted down 
the Hudson River and marketed in Albany: born Feb. 11. 
1765; died July 15. 1.S55. Through Anson, son of Erasmus, 
and father of Wni. H. He married Eliza Moors of Hudson. 
N, Y,, Oct. 23, 1823, and settled on a farm near his father's 
home. He was Supervisor of his native town many years and 
member of the N, Y. State Legislature. The Inter years of his 
life he spent in Cambridge, N. Y.. having retired on a comfort- 
able fortune ; born Dec. 20. 1794; died Sept. 15. ].S(;9. Anson 
and Eliza, his first wife, brought up four sons and two daughters. 
It is believed that these ancesters were all fdnim-K. 



91 

On the I'luni in Kaslon \\ in. 11. grew up to the age of seven- 
teen, working sununei's and attending district school winters. 
At the above age he passed ont from the influence of the home- 
stead, which was one of a strong moral and Christian character, 
and prepared for college largely in Washington Academy, Cam- 
bridge, N. Y., though attending one term in Union Village 
Academy, N. Y., and another term in Burr Seminary, Vermont. 
In the fall of 184S), he entered the sophomore class of Williams 
College, Mass., and graduated in a class of fifty-one members, 
in the year l'S")2. He did not know enough to be a farmer, and 
for that reason, his father used to say, he sent him to college. 
His studies went smoother to him than farming ; he sustained a 
respectable stand as a scholar and spoke on the Junior, Adel- 
phic Union and Commencement stages. 

He was deeply impressed with great moral and Christian prin- 
ciples, by the instructions and characters of two of his precep- 
tors, Prof. Albert Hopkins and Pres. Mark Hopkins. In the 
spring of his Senior year, he resolved to lead a Christian life, 
and from the spring Ibllowing has been a member of some Chris- 
tian church, and for many years a Superintendent of Sunday 
schools. After his graduation, he taught during the fall term 
in Brattleb(MO, Vt. assisting Rev. Koswell Harris, and com- 
menced the study of medicine, reciting to Dr. Willard Arms. 

The following winter, l<S52-o, he assisted the Rev. James 
Tutfts in .Monson Academy, Mass., and after commencing the 
spring term was interrupted in his work with an attack of hem- 
orhage of the lungs. Following the advice of medical counsel, 
he terminated his connection with this institution of learning 
immediately, and, intluenced further by the knowledge of the 
hereditary tendency to consumption which menaced him, aban- 
doned all literary and professional hopes and sought an active 
out -door life in the West. The summer of 1854 he spent with 
a corps of Engineers running the preliminary line of the Iowa 
Central Air-line Railroad, first carrying the chain, then the staff 
and then the compass. He turned his attention subsequently 
to surveying farms, selecting government lands and locating land 
warrants in Iowa, and finally located in Sioux City Iowa, having 
oro-anized the firm of Bigelow & White which commenced the 
real estate and banking business in the spring of 1856. 



92 

On the 18th of Nov., 1856, he married Mar}' Ann Hayes, 
daughter of Dea. Russell Hayes of West Brattleboro, Vt., and 
went to Sioux City for permanent residence. Two sons were 
there born to them, Russel Anson, born June 2, 1859, and Wm. 
H. Jr., born July 22, 18G1. He served one year as Mayor of 
Sioux City, and was appointed by President Lincoln in the 
spring of 1861 Register of the Land Office at Sioux City. He 
discharged the duties of this office until the spring 1864, when 
he resigned and moved to Chicago, and became a member of the 
firm of Bigelow Brothers, manufacturers and dealers in lumber. 
This firm, as thus organized, consisting of three brothers, Anson 
A., Charles H. and Wm. H., has continued the business to the 
present time (1881) with uniform and growing financial success. 
From the fall of 1869 Wm. H. has been a silent partner, being- 
compelled b}' the breaking down of his nervous system to with- 
draw from the active management of the business and give 
himself up to travel and recreation for the restoration of his 
health. Accompanied by his family he spent two winters in 
Florida, and in 1872 crossed the Atlantic and spent two years 
travelling in Europe. 

Returning in 1874, with health somewhat improved, he, with 
his family, repaired to his wife's ancestral estate in West Brattle- 
boro, Yt., which she had inherited, being the only heir of her 
parents, and there settled down in the old homestead, built in 
1795 by her grandfather, Rutherford Hayen. who was the grand- 
father also of ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes. 

For the purpose of educating his sons, a temporary home has 
been made in New Haven, Ct., where he has resided much of 
the time for the past four years. Interested in Genealogical 
studies, he became interested in his own ancestral race, and in 
1877 published a small volume which exhibited the result of his 
researches. Feb. 20, 1879, a third son was born to them, who 
recieved the name of Hayes. 

The close of this brief biography leaves its subject in the en- 
joyment of comparative health, possessed nith enough of this 
world's goods to satisfy a moderate ambition, and lilest witli a 
wife that God lias spared to him, worthy of his love, and three 
sons who, he liopes, will be able to do more for the world than 
he has been able to do himself. 



MEMORIAL. 



By albert a. LOVELL. 



On the 22d day of August last past, an Active Member of 
this Society, William Howard Bigelow, died at his home in 
West Brattleboro, Vt., in the 53d 3ear of his age. His life, 
though burdensome b}' a constant warfare against the attacks 
of hereditary disease, well filled with usefulness and with all that 
makes life worth living, has closed, and we stand as it were by 
a new made grave, and think of the lesson such a life teaches, 
well worth a young man's study and an old man's reflections. 
A life, which from its purity, its truth and steadfastness of pur- 
pose left the world better than it found it, and from which went 
out the best and noblest influences. In the quiet and seclusion 
of a farmer's home his early days were spent, and guided by the 
counsel and direction of devoted Christian parents, in him was 
formed a strong moral and Christian character, which ever 
proved a sure and steadfast anchor though all the storms and 
vicissitudes of life. It is not for me to furnish any sketch of his 
life, as that has already been supplied by his own willing com- 
pliance with the request of the Society, but rather let me present 
those traits and characteristics of mind and heart which com- 
bined to make the man. 

In the spring of the year 1877 it became my good fortune to 
meet Mr. Bigelow in the way of correspondence, as he was at 
that time engaged in preparing a "Genealogy of one Branch of 
the Bigelow Family." He desired me to consult the Town Rec- 
ords of Worcester for facts bearing upon the matter. The cor- 
respondence thus begun led me, in the summer of that year, to 
forward him a copy of our first Societj' publication, soon after 
which I received an acknowledgment in which he said "I can- 
not state the interest I feel in these matters relating to our 



94 

ancestors and their deeds. I shall want to keep track of the 
doings of your Society of Antiquity, and the best way to do that 
would be to accept your kind invitation to join the said Society. 
Should it elect me a member, I should try and do for it what its 
interests demand of me." 

On the ninth of Nov., 1877, he was admitted to membership, 
and in his correspondence with us he ever manifested a deep 
interest in the welfare of the Society, and always sent words of 
encouragement in relation to the work in which it was engaged. 
Modest and unassuming, he ever preferred that his life should 
make answer for itself, and in sending the foregoing biography 
under date of June 1(3, 1879, he writes, "I have just received a 
reminder from the Committee on Biography, and will say that 
I am willing to comply with their request, although my life 
seems too empty to receive so wortliy a place in the records of 
the Society." One who knew Mr. Bigelow well, and who en- 
joyed an intimacy with him that made his loss a personal be- 
reavement, has kindly favored me with the impressions that a 
constant intercourse had left upon him regarding the leading 
traits of his character. 

He was a man of warm affections leading him to form strong- 
attachments to persons and places. His attachment to the 
home of his later years was remarkable considering the short 
time he had made it his residence, and how comparatively little 
there was to engage one of his active and enterprising tempera- 
ment, and how large were the opixu'tunities he possessed to 
seek interests elsewhere. He exhibited a tenderness and rever- 
ence for the aged which revealed a loving and reverent heart. 
Those of his own town were frequently in his thoughts, and the 
year before his death he charged his friend to inform him when 
any were removed by death, that if absent lie might return to 
pav his tribute of respect to their memory. In the same man- 
ner, though naturally in a less degree, he kept a warm phice in 
his memory for the Academy where he taught in his earlier years, 
and the acquaintances he formed there, though his stay among 
them was for only a few brief months. On one occasion, not 
many months before his death, being detained for some hours at 
a station near bv. he invited his friend to diive over with him 



95 

and visit the place he had not seen for nearly thirty years. 
The whole scene of his early years seemed to come up vividly 
before him, and he recalled with special interest incidents which 
took place durinji' those winter mouths. To this trail of warm 
attachment to persons and places may be owing to the special 
interest he took in tracing out his family relationships, feeling 
as he did a personal attachment to those he had met but rarely 
or had never seen at all. and by this trait was he undoubtedly 
led to connect himself with our Society. 

As a friend he was loyal, steadfast and self-sacrificing to a 
remarkable degree. He possessed that somewhat rare qual- 
ity in a friend, of a willingness to disclose unwelcome truths. 
Those who knew him best could discuss bottom facts with him 
in perfect confidence. He kept nothing back, and he made no 
disclosures save from the kindest and purest of motives. Nat- 
urally a trait of character like this would put some of his friend- 
ly relationships to a severe trial, and yet no one who knew him 
well ever failed to discover the thouroughly unselfish spirit which 
pervaded all his intercourse. His friendly offices and his best 
jiulgujent were evei- at the command of those in need, and con- 
fidence reposed in him was always safe. 

In public affairs and in business he was enterprising, ener- 
getic and ambitious, struggling for the largest measure of suc- 
cess. There may have been times when his friends have feared 
that this idea of success entered too largely into his estimate of 
men and things. But a thorough knowledge of the man reveal- 
ed the fact that he had the breadth of thought and the wisdom 
to give the terra its truest and best meaning, Success with him 
did not mean with confining limitations, but included all the 
larger interests, spiritual as well as temporal. He felt it was a 
duty each man owed to his ftod and to his fellow man to make 
the most of himself, his talents and his opportunities. Hence 
there arose in him a feeling of impatience, leading to expres- 
sions of reproach and chiding when he saw in others what he 
thought a lack of (iodly ambition. Desiring always to witness 
a success he liked best of all to see his friends as they were 
qualified achieving success. 

As a C hristian he was characterized by a spirit of loj'alty. 



96 

quickened and warmed b}' a personal affection for a personal 
Redeemer. He thought and spoke of Christ as the embodiment 
of all that is good and noble and inspiring for humanit}-. 

Having well and faithfull}' served his daj- and generation, he 
is gathered to his fathers, and we are profited in contemplating 
his moral, social, and intellectual worth. 



At the October meeting, on the od iiist. 13 mem- 
bers were present. Rev. A. H. Coolidge and Charles 
A. Denny Esq., of Leicester, Ledyard Bill of Paxton, 
and Everett C. Stone of Worcester, were elected to 
active membership. Mr. Alfred S. Roe gave an in- 
formal sketch of a recent visit to the Mammoth Cave 
in Kentuckv, in which he described the routes of 
approach to the cave, the chiiracteristics and habits 
of the people in its vicinity, the hotels and facilities 
for transportation, and the cave itself, with much of 
detail and interest. His sketcli also included allu- 
sions to other similar natural curiosities in the same 
section of country, and was full of historical, bio- 
graphical, geological and social interest. 

The November meeting was held by adjournment 
on the 14tli inst. ; twentv-six members and visitors 
were present. Dr. Albert Wood of Worcester was 
elected to active membership. 

Wm. B. Harding Esq., read the following paper: 



ORIGIN OF THE NAINIES OF THE TOWNS 

IN 

WORCESTER COUNTY. 



By WILLIAM B. HARDING, Esq. 



Proper names are mere labels or badges, given to distinguish 
between jiersons or places, without an}' more significance or 
meaning than a policeman's badge, a soldier' uniform, or a na- 
tion's flag. We name a person Charles or Maiy and a town 
Worcester or Boston from pure sentimentality', without thought 
or idea as to the derivation and significance of the name. But 
all proper names originall}' had a significance and import, and 
there was once just as good reason for calling a person Charles 
or Mary, and a town Worcester or Boston, as we to-day have 
for designating certain places as Coes' Pond, Jamesville and 
Barber's Crossing. 

The antiquarian by research, and the philologist by study of 
the history of languages, is at the present time enabled to tell 
us with a reasonable degree of certaint}', the derivation and 
meaning of the greater portion of our proper names, but the 
manner, time and occasion of their origin is involved to a great 
extent in the oblivion of the past. As an illustration, we know 
that the first Mason, Carpenter, Taylor, Smith and Fuller, de- 
rived his name from his trade or occupation ; but the reason 
why he was so named and the manner and occasion of his 
christening, are pure matters of theory and speculation. In our 
own age new proper names are being created, expressive of 
some character or idea at first, and finally b}' use becoming to 



■ 98 

be a part of our nomenclature. Who knows but what the anti- 
quarian of the future will puzzle his brains over the meaning of 
the word "greenbacker," and wonder if he had a green back; 
a"stalwart," and wonder if he was a strong man : a'^half-breed," 
and wonder if he was the result of a cross of Indian and white 
blood. 

To render the following pages not entirely void of new thought 
or idea, I have attempted to go a little beyond the local his- 
torians of our towns, and not only find the origin of the names 
of the towns, but also the source and signification of the names 
themselves. In this I have been partially successful, but this 
subject like ever}' other we attempt to investigate, broadens and 
deepens as we proceed, and I find that each name in itself fur- 
nishes ample scope for a dissertation b}- an abler pen than mine. 

The early settlers of Massachusetts brought with them the 
associations and memories of the old country, and in selecting 
names for their new towns, it was natural for them to select 
names of English towns and villages dear to their recollection 
by former associations ; hence we find that from the first land- 
ing, up to 1724, it was the general custom to name towns after 
places in the old country. In 1724, a custom arose of compli- 
menting distinguished Englishmen who were friendly to the colo- 
nies, or particular friends of the Provincial Governors ; this cus- 
tom was continued up to the Revolution, when an entire change 
took place, and American names were used. From the earliest 
days of the Colony up to 1732, it was the custom fur the incorpo- 
rators to select the names ; but after that date nearly all the acts 
of incorporation passed both houses of the legislature in blank, 
and the name which the town was to l)ear, was inserted by the 
Governor, or by his direction, when he approved the act. 

The acts of incorporation approved by Governors Bernard 
and Belcher show the names of the towns written in their own 
handwriting. Probably the inhabitants at times followed their 
petitions for incorporation to the State House, and suggested 
the name they wanted, which perhaps was sometimes granted 
and sometimes not. This custom accounts for so nuiny towns 
being named in honor of titled Englishmen ; the Provincial Gov- 
ernors, some of them Englishmen by birth and Education, and 



99 



till of tlieui Euglit^liinen in political and social interests, sought 
this method of conii)linu'ntiiig their friends in the mother coun- 
try, upon whom they were dependent for the continuance of 
their pcditical power. 

We will now consider the origin of the names of the towns in 
Worcester Couunty in alphabetical order. 

AsHBUUNHAM : — This place was originally called '.'Dorchester 
Canada" because the land was granted to Thomas Tileston and 
other soldiers in Dorchester for services in the expedition to 
Canada in KUK). It was incorporated in 17()5 and named by 
Governor Bernard in honor of John Ashburnham, second Earl 
of Ashbnrnham. This theory is supported b}- the fact of the 
custom then prevailing of naming towns in honor of distinguish- 
ed Englishmen rather than from towns in the old country. The 
noble earls of this surname and title claim to have possessed 
Ashburnham, count}' of Sussex, from before the Norman con- 
quest. In ancient times, ''a burner of ore and wood ashes," 
from which potash or some similar article was made was, called 
an "Ashburner ;" haui is the Saxon for our word home or hamlet. 
So we see the potash maker's home finality grew into a settlement 
and acquired the name of Ashburnham, from the occupation of 
its primitive inhabitant or inhabitants. 

Athol : — The Indian name of this place was Paqquage or Po- 
quaig. It was incorporated in 1762, and named Athol by Gov. 
Bernard. It is supposed the Governor named it in honor of 
James ]\lurray, the second Duke of Athol, Lord Privy Seal of 
Scotland. There is an Athol in Scotland known as the Prov- 
ince of Athol, from which the Duke derived his title. I am 
unable to determine how the name originated. 

ArBURN : — Auburn was incorporated in 1778, and named 
Ward in honor of Gen. Artemas Ward. Upon petition of the 
inhabitants in 1837, the name was changed to Auburn. The 
similarity of the word Ward to Ware, giving rise to postal 
mistakes, was the reason assigned for the change. 

We have in the United States thirty-seven towns and villages 
bearing the name of Auburn. Out of a half dozen different 
Gazetteers I can find only one that makes any mention of an 



100 

Auburn in England. Worcester's Universal Gazette mentions 
a small place in P^nglaud by that name ; so if there is an Auburn 
in England it is an obscure town. What is the origin of the 
name and the reason it has become so common in this countr}- ? 
I am inclined to believe that Goldsmith's poem, ""The Deserted 
Village," furnishes the answer. 

Sweet Auburn ! loveliest village of the plain. 

Goldsmith was ver}- popular in this country, an early edition 
of his works was published here, and here he found his warmest 
admirers. The place Goldsmith is supposed to have had in 
mind in picturing the deserted village was a little village in Ire- 
land named Lissoy, and ever since the publication of the poem 
the little Irish hamlet has borne the name of Aulmrn. It is also 
more than probable that the village called Auburn in England 
derived its name from the same source, for no such name existed 
there previous to the publication of the poem. It is therefore 
quite certain that the name, Auburn, was a pure creation in Gold- 
smith's mind, rather than a reality. The beauty and sweetness 
of the word itself, and the beauty of the simple poem furnishes 
sufficient reason for its frequent use in this country. Colonels 
Car}- and Drury, prominent citizens of Auburn at that time, were 
instrumental in obtaining the change, and state in their petition 
that ''the name it a pleasant one and agreeable to the inhabi- 
tants of Ward." Aul)urn in New York, or Auburn in iNIaine. 
probably furnished the suggestion of the name to their minds. 
The primitive meaning of the word denotes the color made In- 
scorching — reddish brown. 

Barre : — This town was incorporated as ''Rutrand District," 
in 1753, but had no representation in the General Court. The 
people asked for an incorporation as a town under the name of 
Barre in 177;J. The act finally passed in June, 1774. During 
the interval between the introduction and passage of the 'act. 
Gage had succeeded Hutchinson in office, and at its passao-e 
procured the insertion of the name of Hutchinson in place of 
Barre in honor of his predecessor. The name of Hutchinson 
was odious in the colonies at this time, and the people naturallv 
desired a change, so in 177G the town petitioned for a change 



101 



of name, iiiid suggostcd the iiiiiiH' of Wilkes, but through tlie 
intluence of some one, now unknown, tlie oiiginal name sug- 
gested, Barre, was inserted, and in tliat form the act passed. 

Colonel Isaac Barre, in whose lioiior the town was named, wub 
a son of a French refugee, and was born in Dublin, lie entered 
the English arm}', rose to the rank of Colonel, was present at 
the seige of (Quebec, witnessed the death of Wolfe, himself being 
wounded, and his portrait occupies a prominent place in Benja- 
min West's great painting of the death of Wolfe. In 1761 he 
was elected to Tarliament, and when Grenville introduced the 
vStamp Act, Barre opposed it in a forcible and eloquent speech, 
and throughout the long contest of the colonies for indepen- 
dence, he was their friend and advocate. Barre was considered 
bv some to be the author of the "Junius" Letters. 

The name being of French origin, its meaning is "bar," "ob- 
struction." This meaning, happily, is in unison with the charac- 
ter of the man who dared oppose the ministry and King in their 
oppressive measures towards the colonies. 

Beklin : — This town was taken from Bolton and incorporated 
as the "District of Piolton" in 17.S4, and as a town in 1812. 
I have been unal)le to discover any reason why the incorporators 
of this District should ask for the name of Berlin. It seems 
singular that a District set ofi'from Bolton (which originally was 
a part of Lancaster) just at the close of the revolutionary war, 
at a time when there was a profusion of patriotic and historical 
American names, should be named after a Prussian city. I can 
think of no other town in all New England bearing a Prussian 
or German name.* It is true that Frederic The Great, then 
King of Prussia, was somewhat friendly to America, and had 
years before denounced the employment of Hessians by the 
F'nglish ; and a year later, 1785, presented Washington a sword, 
but there seems to be no connection between this and the nam- 
ing of the town. Inquiry of the oldest inhabitants and of the 
local historian fails to elicit an}- satisfactory answer to the 
question. 

* It is stated bv Mr. Lovell that there is a Steuben in Maine. 



102 



Blackstone : — William Blackstone, an Episcopal minister, 
was the first white settler in Boston, where he built a cabin in 
1625-6, and where he was found by C4ov. Winthrop in 163U. 
Blackstone afterwards moved to Rhode Island and settled on 
the bank of the river a few miles above Providence, at what is 
now called Cumberland. The river soon acquired the name of 
the Blackstone river. The town of Blackstone was taken from 
Mendon and incorporated in 1845. For some time previous to 
its incorporation the settlement was called Blackstone, this name 
being naturally suggested b}' the location of the village on the 
river of that name. The name itself naturally' suggests its 
meaning, but how it originated is a matter of pure speculation. 

Bolton : — Bolton was incorporated in 1738, and its name was 
given by Gov. Belcher in honor of Charles Fowlet, 3d Duke of 
Bolton. Bolton, the place where the Duke and his ancestors 
originated, is a town situated in Lancashire, Englaud. Bolton 
was originally a part of Lancaster and this relatiou of Bolton to 
Lancashire in England possibl}- had something to do with the 
selection of the names in this county. 

The origin of the name is somewhat obscure. It is probable 
that the natural features of the place, abrupt, steep, l)old, gave 
rise to the name of Bold-tun. Tun is the Saxon for our word 
village, and town, and in time this ending came to be si)elled ton. 

BoYLSTON : — This town was incorporated in 17<S(;, nnd was 
named in honor of the Boylston family in Boston. The par- 
ticular Boylston its incorporators had in mind was probal>h 
Nicholas Boylston, a wealthy merchant of Boston, who founded 
the Boylston Professorship at Harvard University, by a liequest 
of £1500. He gave the town a bell and Bil)le, which is suflici- 
ent reason for the belief that the town intended to compliment 
him in the selection of the name. In all probaT)ility the name 
was once Boyle's-town. We find in the history of names re- 
peated instances of a town taking the name of a man with the 
addition of the sufllx tun or tou. and afterwards a man or family 
taking the name of the town. 

Brookfikli) : — The Indian name of this town was Qanl)oa;i,-. 
and it was so called by the whites until its incorporation. 



103 

There is no doubt that its name was suggested b\- its natural 
features. The fields and meadows lying along the Quaboag 
suggests the fields by the brook. Probably the Quaboag means 
in the Indian tongue nearly the same thing. There is a striking 
similarity between the word Quaboag and our English words 
quag and bog, but this is no argument that they mean the same, 
for the English language and Indian dialects have not a com- 
mon origin. 

Charlton : — This town was probably named from Sir Francis 
Charlton, Bart., a gentleman of the Privy Chamber in 1755. 
In view of the date of its incorporation, 1764, and the fact that 
Gov. Bernard wrote the name in the act of incorporation, it is 
probable he gave the name in honor of his countryman. Sir 
Francis. Charleston, Charlestown, Charlton and Charlesworth 
have the same origin, Charl, Saxon, ceorl, the primary signifi- 
cation of which is "male," is the word from which we derive 
Charles. A signification of harsh, rude, rustic, ill-bred was 
finally developed in the use of the word. Whether the name 
was Charles-ton originally, signifying the dwelling place of 
churlish people, or whether it was Charleston, a place settled 
by Charles, is a matter of doubt. Probably the word had de- 
veloped into the name of Charles before the naming of any town. 

Clinton : — This town was incorporated in 1850, and was 
named in honor of De Witt Clinton. The original meaning of 
the word is "little," or "small town," which seems quite appro- 
priate considering the geographical size of the town. 

Dana : — Dana was incorporated in 1801, and was named In 
honor of the distinguished Dana family of Massachusetts, but 
which Dana is not absolutely certain. In view of the fact that 
Francis Dana, the jurist and patriot, who died in 1811, and who 
was the most distingished Dana in America at that time, took 
some interest in the incorporation of the town, it is more than 
probable that the name was given in his honor. The origin and 
meaning of the name cannot now be told. 

Douglas : — The original settlers of this place came almost 
entirely from the town of Sherburne. It was called the "New 
Sherburne Grant" up to 1746, when it was incorporated as a Dis- 



104 



trict. In 1786 it was incorporated as a town, and named Dong- 
las in lionor of Dr. William Douglas, a Scotchman by biilli, a 
physician in Boston, and author of several historical and u)edi- 
cal works. He was an extensive land proprietor in the state, 
and in consideration of the privilege of naming the town, gave 
the inhabitants thereof the sum of $500 as a fund for the estab- 
lishment and maintenance of free schools, together with a tract 
of 30 acres of land with a dwelling house and barn thereon. 
It is said that something more than $900 still remain of the 
fund in the keeping of the town. The meaning of the name 
Douglas, is Black loater. 

Dudley: — Dudlej' was incorporated in 17ol, and it is said 
was named from Paul and William Dudley, who were early pro- 
prietors. The Indian name was ChargoggagoggmarwhaMc/ga- 
goggagungamaugg . 

FiTCHBURG : — The whole tract of land embraced in what is 
now Lunenburg and Fitchburg was called"Turkey Hill"previous 
to the incorporation of Lunenburg, on account of the large num- 
ber of wild turkey's found on its hills. After the incorporation 
of Lunenburg, 1728, that part of the town now Fitchburg re- 
tained to some extent the local name of ''Turkey Hill." In 1 7(14 
Fitchburg was set off from Lunenburg and incorporated as a 
town. John Fitch was chosen by the people to procure its in- 
corporation, and his influence at home and with the Governoi- 
enabled him to procure the name of Fitchburg. It may be here 
said that hurg or borough originally meant a place with a rep- 
resentative in the government, but in later times it has come to 
mean simply a town or place, burg, borough and btirj/ meanina- 
the same thing. The naming of Fitchburg seems to form an 
exception to the general rule and custom pursued by Governor 
Bernard of naming towns in honor of some distinguished Eng- 
lishman. No doubt considerable wire-pulling and political in- 
fluence was brought to bear to accomplish it. The word "Fitch" 
is a Norman-French prefix, signif3ing son. It is probably a 
corruption of the Ijatmjilius. Fitz is also another corruption. 
So Fitzpatrick was a son of Patrick. 



105 

Gakdnku : — Cjardncr was incorporated in \7Si), and perpetu- 
ates the name of Col. Thomas Gardner who fell at the battle of 
Bunker Hill. The name originally signilied one who grafted 
young trees. The primary sense of the word is an enclosed 
place, and this explains the origin of our word "garden." 

Grafton: — The territory embraced in what is now Grafton 
and Sutton was called b}- the Indians Ilassanaviisco, which 
signifies "a place of small stones." Grafton was set off from 
Sutton in 1735, and named b}' Gov. Belcher, in honor of Charles 
FitzKoy, Duke of Grafton, a grandson of Charles II. The 
Duke when informed by the King that a numerous body of Ger- 
man troops was to join the British forces for the subjugation of 
America, replied :"Your majesty will find too late that twice the 
number will only increase the disgrace, and never effect the 
purpose." The Duke of Grafton takes his title from Grafton 
Begis, which originally signified the grafts or trees of the King. 

Hardwick : — The Indian name of this place was Wombem- 
esisecook. In 168G John Lamb and others purchased the land 
of the Indians, and the place was called Lambstown. In 1737 
it was incorporated and named by Gov Belcher, Hardwick. 

The name probably was given in honor of Phillip York, Lord 
Hardwick, Chief Justice of the King's Bench. The Latin name 
is Hardovmcm, vicum meaning village. What the signification 
of hanlo is and how it came to be the name of a village I am 
unable to determine. 

Harvard; — Harvard was incorporated in 1732, and named 
Harvard in honor of Rev. John Harvard, founder of Harvard 
Universit}'. The names Harvard, Howard, and Heruvard were, 
once the same name. 

HoLDEN : — Holden originally was called "Worcester North 
Half," or North Worcester. It was incorporated in 1740, and 
named bj- Gov. Belcher in honor, it is supposed, of Hon. Sam- 
uel Holden, a Director in the Bank of England. The name 
originally was probably Holderness, and shortened for conven- 
ience. Ilolderness is an English town, and its signification is 
"a wooded promontory." 



106 

HuBBAUDSTON : — Hubbai'dston was incorporated in 17G7, and 
named Hubbardston in lionor of Thomas Hubbard, a merchant 
in Boston. Hubbard agreed to give the glass for the first meet- 
ing house built in the town, on condition that the town should 
bear his name. The people made arrangements for an extra 
amount of glass, but before the house was made ready for it, 
Hubbard died, leaving his estate insolvent. The result was 
they had to buy their glass. This meeting house still stands, 
though it has been remodelled. Hubbard was at one time Treas- 
urer of Harvard University, and was a proprietor of lands in 
Hubbardston, Royalston, and other places. Hubbard is prob- 
.^Ji^y the same name as the English name Hubert, meaning "clear 
color." 

Lancaster : — Lancaster was incorporated in 1653, and named 
from Lancaster, England. The inhabitants of Nashaway, as it 
was then called, petitioned that they might be incorporated and 
called Lancaster. Some of its earhest settlers came from Lan- 
cashire, England. Lancaster, England, is the site of one of the 
old Roman camps on the river Loire. There are tw^o descrip- 
tions as to the derivation of the word. One authority claims 
that it is derived from the 8axon word lang^ meaning long, and 
ceaster, the Saxon form of the Latin word castra, meaning 
"camp," and hence that it was "the long camp." Another 
authority claims that the prefix Ian is only the changed spelling 
of the word Lune, and that the name was once Lunecaster, and 
finally shortened to Lancaster, meaning "the camp on the river 
Lune." It would seem more natural to designate the camp by 
the name of the river, than by any particular shape of the camp. 
The river Lune was called b}' the Romans Adahina, and finally 
came to be called the Lune. It was probably so called either 
in consequence of its resemblance to the moon in its silvern- 
whiteness, or crescent shape. 

Leicester : — The site of this town was purchased irom the 
Indians by Joshua Lamb and others in 1687. It was called 
Towtaid b}^ the Indians, and "Strawberry Hill" by tlie English. 
It was incorporated in 1713, and named Leicestei*from old Lei- 
cester, England. The word Leicester has a similar origin to 



107 

that of Lancaster. ' The town of Leicester, Knglnnd, is the place 
of an ancient Roman camp, called Lajionh castni, camp of "the 
legion." By shortening and elimination the word finall}- be- 
came Leicester. 

Leominster: — Leominster was incorporated in 1740, and 
named from the ancient town of Leominster, England. The 
word minster is derived from the Latin 7nonasterium, and means 
"a church of a monaster}-." A church or monastery founded in 
ancient times by a Leo, probably gave rise to the name of Leo- 
minster. 

Lunenburg : — As I have before stated this territory was 
called Turkey Hill. The town was incorporated in 1728, and 
named in honor of George II., one of his titles being the Duke 
of Lunenburg. Lunenburg is a city in the old Kingdom of 
Hanover. George II. was of the house of Hanover and derived 
this title from this Hanoverian place. The origin of the name 
is obscure, but the accepted theor}' is that on the site of this city 
there was once a temple dedicated to the worship of the moon. 
The temple and locality acquired the name of the moon, luna, 
and finall}^ the town or burg was called Lunenburg. 

Mendon : — The Indian was Quanslivpmige. The town was 
incorporated in 1667, and there is no doubt that it was named 
from Mendham, located on the river Waring, Suffolk County, 
P^ngland, a place of great antiquit}'. There is no doubt that 
the General Court in its act of incorporation changed the or- 
thography of the word either accidentally, ignorantly or inteu- 
tionall}-, for no such town or place as Mendon existed in Eng- 
land at that time. As I have before stated ham is the Saxon 
for "home" or "hamlet ;" what the prefix mend means is a mat- 
ter of speculation. 

MiLLBURY : — Millbur}- was taken from Sutton and incorpora- 
ted in 1813. The mill on the Blackstone doubtless suggested 
the name. Previous to its incorporation it was known as "the 
North Parish of Sutton." 

MiLFOUD : — This town was set off" from Mendon as a Precinct 
or Parish in 1741, and was known as"Mill River." It was in- 
corporated as a town in 1780. It was called by the Indians 



108 

Woiyoivage. Mill River, which takes its rise in Ilopkinton and 
flows through Milford in a southerly course, has been called 
Mill River ever since the first white settlement on its banks. 

In early days a corn mill was built on this river, and was 
destroyed in King Phillip's war. Before any bridges were built, 
there were several fords familiar to the Indians, and used b}' the 
whites. From these features it can easily be seen what sug- 
gested the name of the town. It may be here said that there 
are several towns in England and in this country bearing the 
same name. The mill b}' the ford or ford by the mill is doubt- 
less the origin of the name. 

New^ Bkaintree : — This township was granted to the inhabit- 
ants of Old Braintree, Mass., for services in the Indian war of 
1675. It was for a long time called "Braintree Farms" It was 
incorporated in 1751, and the name New Braintree was a natural 
suo;o;estion. The Indian name was Wenimesset. Braintree was 
named from old Braintree, England. I have been unable to 
discover the origin or meaning of the name. 

NORTHBOROUGH, SOUTHBOROUGH AND WeSTBOROUGH : Wcst- 

borough, which comprised what is now Westborough and North- 
borough, was taken from old Marlborough in 1717, and its 
geographical situation on the west of Marlborough suggested 
its name. Before its incorporation it was called "Chauncey 
Village." Southborough, taken from Marlborough in 1727, and 
lying on the south, was named Southborough. Northborough, 
taken from Westborough in 1766, and lying on the north, was 
called Northborough. 

NoRTHBRiDGE : — This towu was taken from Uxbridge in 1 772, 
and was doubtless named Northbridge on account of its geo- 
graphical situation on tlie north of the older town. 

North Brookfield and West Brookfield : — These names 
naturally explain themselves. North Brookfield was incorpora- 
ted as the Second parish of Brookfield in 1750, and as a town 
in 1812. West Brookfield was called the West Parish of Brook- 
field, and incorporated as a town in 1<S4>>. 



109 

Oakiiaji : — Oakluim was origiiuiUy culled "Rutland West 
Wing." It was taken from Rutland and incorporated in 1762. 
Many of its original settlers came from Oakham, England, the 
shire town of Rutlandshire. These associations sufficiently 
account for the name of our Oakham. II(im he'mg the Saxon 
for "home" or "hamlet," and oak being a certain tree or wood, 
it is easy to see the meaning of the word, but as to the origin 
of it as a name, it is not so easy to say. 

Oxford : — Oxford was called bj- the Indians Manrliavg. It 
was incorporated in 1713, and named Oxford from old Oxford, 
England. In regard to the origin of the name the common 
belief is, that it was "the ford of the ox" across the river, and 
in support of this theor}' the fact is cited that the word was, 
anciently, often spelletl Oxenford ; but this theory is not well 
founded. No reason can be assigned for calling the ford an ox 
ford, rather than a horse ford, an ass ford, a sheep ford, or a 
man ford, if, as we are bound to believe, the ford was used in 
common by all these animals. The better authority as to its 
origin is that it was a ford across the river Ock. Oxford is sit- 
uated at the confluence of the Thames and Cherwell. The river 
Cherwell once bore the Celtic name of Ock, and in the course 
of time this prefix of the name of the river came to be spelled 
and pronounced Ox. 

Paxton : — This town was taken from Rutland and Leicester, 
and incorporated in 1765. Governor Bernard gave the town its 
name in honor of his friend Charles Paxton, one of the Com- 
missioners of Customs in Boston. Paxton, it is said, promised 
to give the town a bell if it was named after him, which promise 
he never kept. Paxton became odious to the people by reason 
of his strong adherence to the royal cause, and his political ras- 
calities in general. He left Boston at the time of the British 
evacuation, and proceeded to England, where he died. One of 
the earlier public acts of the town was to appoint a committee 
"to petition the General Court for a name more agreeable to 
the inhabitants and the public than Paxton," but no action was 
ever taken. A portrait of Paxton now hangs in the halls of the 
American Antiquarian Society. The origin of the name is 



110 

obscure. The signification of the Latin Pax is "peace," "con- 
tract" or "compact." Perhaps it was a place where a treaty of 
peace of minor importance was once entered into, or possibly 
the place acquired its name from the peaceable disposition of its 
primitive inhabitants. The Paxton familj' evidently derived 
its name from a town of that name. 

Petersham : — The Indian name of this town was Nicheivaug. 
It was incorporated in 1754, when Shirley was Governor. The 
name was given after Petersham, England, but whether by re- 
quest of the inhabitants or by arbitrary notion of the Governor 
is uncertain. The meaning of the name of course is Peter's 
home." The place where Peter lived finally grew into a hamlet 
and village, and in time acquired the name of Petersham. Peter 
is from the Greek meaning "rock." 

Phillipston : — The town was incorporated in 17<SG undei' the 
name of Gerr}-. In 1814 the inhabitants petitioned the General 
Court to change the name to Phillipston on account of their dis- 
satisfaction with Gov. Gerr3^'s official and political action. 

They state in their petition that they "never asked for the 
name of Gerry," and that they "are under no obligation to him 
for any benefit conferred." It was named Phillipston in honor 
of William Phillips, then Lieut. Governor. The query is liow 
it came to be named Gerry ? Probably it was fixed up between 
Gerry himself and Gov. Bowdoin. Although by the action of 
the inhabitants Gov. Gerry failed to perpetuate liis name in a 
township, he succeeded far better in another way, ibr the word 
"gerrymander" has become incorporated into the English lan- 
guage, and is used by people who never heard of Gerry, and 
who have not the remotest idea how the word originated. 

Phillip is from the Greek, meaning "a lover of horses." 

Princeton : — The Indian name of this place was Wachusett. 
It was incorporated as the "District of Prince-town" in IToO, 
and as a town in 1771. It was named Princeton in honor of 
Rev. Thomas Prince, who for forty years was pastor of the Ohl 
South Church in Boston. Prince was an extensive owner of 
land in this vicinity which was sometimes called "Rutland East 
Wing." He took great interest in the survey and settlement of 



Ill 

the town, which accounts for the selection ol'the name. Prince 
is a common name, and is derived of course IVom the Latin, 
princeps, meaning "first." 

RovALSTON : — Col. Isaac Royal and otliers obtained a grant 
of the township in 1752. The proprietors held their first meet- 
ing in a tavern in Boston and voted to call the land Royalshire, 
whereupon Isaac Royal agreed to give £25 towards building a 
meeting house. This little arrangement was probably under- 
stood beforehand, and the £25 was the price this royal gentle- 
man was to pa}- for the sake of having the place bear his name. 
It was incorporated is 17(J5, and named Royalston — tcm being a 
more appropriate sutllx for a town than shire. The word "Roy- 
al" explains its own meaning. 

Rutland : — The Indian name of this town was Naquag. It 
was purchased of the Indians in 1G86, and incorporated in 1713. 
A local historian claims that it was named in honor of the Duke 
of Rutland, but I am inclined to believe that this claim is erro- 
neous. The incorporators no doubt had in mind the County of 
Rutlandshire, England, wfiich in territory corresponded nearly 
in size to the then large township of Rutland. It was named at 
a time when nearly all towns were named after places in the old 
country. The incorporators asked for the name of Rutland in 
their petition, and no reason can be assigned why the}*, coming 
as they did from the eastern part of Massachusetts, should wish 
to compliment the Duke of Rutland. It is possible that some 
of its earliest settlers were born in Rutlandshire, England, but 
I am not aware of any authoritj' for the statement. The name 
is derived from the Anglo Saxon rud or rut., meaning red and 
land. The territory was so called from the redness of the soil ; 
this was so marked that it colored the wool of the sheep. 

Shrewsbury: — This town was incorporated in 1727, and one 
authority states that it was named in honor of Charles, Duke of 
Shrewsbury. It is possible that it was named after Shrewsbury, 
England. The fact that at about this time the custom arose 
of complimenting distinguished Englishmen in naming towns, is 
the only reason we have for beleiving that the Duke was meant 
instead of the town. There are two theories in regard to the 



112 

origin of the name. One authority states that Shrewsbury de- 
rived its name from Shrew and bury, being a place where the 
Shrew or Shrews dwelt, and this is the common acceptation. 
But a better authority denies this derivation, and claims that 
the word Shrew is a corruption of a Saxon word meaning"shrub" 
or "scrub," and that the shrubby characteristics of the locality 
gave rise to the name. Shrewsbury, England, is a place of 
great antiquity, situated on the Severn. 

SouTHBKiDGE : — For somc reason, now unknown, this localit}-, 
previous to its incorporation, was called "Honest Town." It was 
taken from Sturbridge, Charlton and Dudley, and incorporated 
in 1816. Its location on the south of Sturbridge furnishes a 
reason for its name. 

Spencer : — Spencer was taken from Leicester and incorpora- 
ted as "Second Precinct of Leicester" in 1744, and as "Spencer 
District" in 1753. Lieut. Governor Spencer Phipps approved 
the act of incorporation as a District and gave it his name. It is 
not likely the inhabitants wanted the name, for Gov. Phipps had 
previously vetoed an act of the General Court incorporating it 
as a town, and could not have been very popular with its people. 
It never had any other incorporation, but in 1775 sent a rep- 
resentative at the request of the Provincial Congress, and there- 
after assumed the full rights of a town. The word Spencer is an 
abbreviation of the word "dispenser." The "Spencer" of olden 
times had an important charge, that of the butter}', and place 
where the household stores were kept. The word is from the 
Latin cUs and pendo^ to weigh or measure out. 

Sterling : — This town previous to its incorporation was "tlie 
Second Parish of Lancaster," and was commonly called by its 
Indian name, Chocksett. It was incorporated in 17.S1, and one 
authorit}' says it was named from Stirling, the capitol of Stir- 
lingshire, Scotland ; but there is reason to doubt this. Peter 
Whitney in his History of Worcester County states that it wtis 
named in honor of Lord Stirling, and there are strong reasons 
for believing this to be correct. William Alexander, known in 
history only as Lord Stirling, was born in New York in 172r). 
He claimed the Earldom in Scotland and spent a large fortune 



113 

in attempting to gain title to the estates of vStirling, hut was 
unsuccessful. In the French and Indian war he was a member 
of Gen. Shirley's military familj'. At the breaking out of the 
revolutionar}- war he was appointed colonel of a regiment, and 
subsequently was created a Major General. He fought with 
Washington at the battle of Long Island, Brandywine and Ger- 
mantown. As a patriot he fills an honorable place in American 
histor}-. Considering the date of the naming of the town, 1781, 
it is far more reasonable that the people desired to compliment 
the Patriot, Lord Stirling, than that the}' had in mind this Scotch 
town of Stirling. The name was originally EasterUng^ and was 
anciently given to the money brought to England b}' honest 
Holland merchants, "Easterling mone}'," it was called. The 
word was finally shortened to Sterling, and in time became the 
name of the P^nglish money. In this -wa}' the word came to 
meau, "good," ''money" &c. 

Sturbridge : — This town was incorporated in 1738. It was 
originally granted to petitioners from Medfield, and called "New 
Medfield." It was named from Stourbridge, Worcestershire, 
England, from whence some of its earliest settlers came, which 
explains the selection of the name. Stourbridge, England, is 
situated on the river Stour, which explains the origin of the 
town's name. The word Stour is Gaelic, meaning"rough, ""un- 
worn." 

Sutton: — The territor}- of this town, called by the Indians 
Hassanamisco, was purchased by its proprietors of John Wam- 
pus, alias White, an Indian Sachem, and the grant was con- 
firmed in 1704. The town was incorporated in 1715. How it 
came to be named Sutton is not quite certain. It may have 
been named in honor of one of the Sutton family in England, 
or, it may have been named from the old town of Sutton in 
England. There is a tradition to the effect that John Wampus 
crossed the Atlantic and visited England, and while on his re- 
turn voyage, falling sick, he received particular care and atten- 
tion from one of his fellow passengers, Dr. Sutton, and from 
gratitude to him for his kindness, suggested his name for the 
township when he gave the deed conveying it to the proprietors 



114 



But it is probable, considering tlie date of incorporation, that it 
was named from the old town of Sutton. The name originally 
was "Southtown," and was contracted to Sutton. 

Templeton : — The territory was originally granted to 120 
soldiers and their descendants who fought in the Narragansett 
war, and it was called "Plantation of Narragansett No. 6." It 
was incorporated as a town in 17G2, and named Temjileton in 
honor of John Temple, who then represented the American 
branch of the family of Richard Grenville, Earl Temple. Ber- 
nard was Governor at the time, and doubtless gave the town 
its name. Temple is from the Latin Templane, meaning "a 
place of worship." How it came to be a proper name is a mat- 
ter of speculation. 

Upton : — Upton was taken from Mendon, Sutton and Hopkiu- 
ton, and incorporated in 1735. It was probably named from 
Upton, Worcestershire, England, a very ancient town on the 
river Severn. In early days it was probably "Uptown" in dis- 
tinction from "downtown." 

UxBRiDGE : — Uxbridge wa staken from Mendon and incorpora- 
ted in 1727. Its Indian name was Waruntug. It was probably 
named in honor of Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge, and at that 
time a member of the Privy Council ; though it is not certain 
but what it was named from the town of Uxbridge in Middlesex 
County, England. The date of the incorporation is the only 
reason for supposing that the Earl was meant instead of the 
town. Uxbridge, England, is on the river Colne, a Roman 
name which superseded the Celtic name of Ux. The place of the 
bridge across the river Ux finall}' came to be Uxbridge. 

Warren : — This town was incorporated as Western in 1741, 
and the name changed to Warren in 1841. The new name was 
given in honor of the patriot. Gen. Joseph Warren. The simi- 
larity of the name Western to Weston, Middlesex County, 
giving rise to postal mistakes was the reason assigned for the 
change. The name dates back of the Norman conquest. A 
warren was a privilege by the King for keeping conies, hares, 
partridges «fec. The ancestor of the Warren family was proba- 
bly a keeper of a Warren. 



115 

Wehsteu: — Webster was taken from Dudley and Oxford in 
1832 and named Webster in honor of Daniel Webster. Tiie 
word ''AVebster" means "a weaver," being derived from Webbe, 
Webber. An old English couplet runs, 

"My Avife was a webster 

And woolen cloth made." 

In medi;T3val English the termination "ster" was a feminine 
one ; and still survives with its primitive signification in "spin- 
ster." We see the same ending in such names as Baxter, 
originally '*Bakester," "a female baker," Brewster," "a female 
brewer." The female ancestor of the Websters, was without 
doubt, a weaver ; and her descendants took her occupation for 
a famil}' name, rather than the father's for some reason. 

West BoYLSTON : — West Boy Iston, taken in part from Old 
Boylston, and lying on the west, explains itself. 

Westminster : — The territory was granted to soldiers who 
served in King Phillip's war, and was called "Narragansett 
No. 2." It was incorporated in 1770 and named Westminster 
from one of the seven boroughs of Lincoln. The name and place 
is of great antiquit}'. The word Minster is derived from the 
Latin Monasterium^ and means "a church of a monastery." 

WiNCiiENDON : — This territory in 1734 was granted to Lieut. 
Abram Tilton and some sixty others, mostl}' from Ipswich 
Mass., some of whom had rendered services in the expedition 
to Canada in 1(590, and hence it was called "Ipswich Canada." 
The town was incorporated when Bernard was Governor, 1764, 
and in naming it he attempted to honor himself. Gov. Bernard 
was the eventual heir of the TA'ringhams of upper Winchendon, 
England. This explains the selection of the name. The name 
is probably derived from the Saxon wince! , meaning "corner or 
turn," and doivns., meaning "low or sloping land." The place 
at the corner or turn on the downs finall}' came to be called 
Wincel-don ^ and from this word Winchendon was evolved. 

Worcester : — The castle of the inhabitants of Jliviccia, called 
ITwic-ivara-ceaster has long since crumbled to dust, but on the 
site of this ancient Roman war-castle, on the banks of the Sev- 
ern, modern Worcester, from which our city was named, stands 



116 

to-day. The pleasant sounding Indian name, Quinsigamoncl, 
by which this locaUty was once known, means "long fishing 
place, "the word being compounded ofquinni "long" and amang^ 
corrupted into amoRcZ," fishing place." To whom are we indebt- 
ed for the name of Worcester, and why was this name selected? 

William H. Whitmore, a critical student of the earl}- histor}' 
of the colony and the origin of names, is authority for the state- 
ment that there is a tradition that the name was chosen here as 
a defiance of the King, but he neither states any facts nor uses 
any argument in support of its truth ; neither does he express 
an}' opinion as to who suggested the name. Does this tradition 
rest upon any foundation, and if so, in whose mind did the idea 
originate? We find in the colonial records of 1684, the follow- 
ing record : "Vpou the motion & desire of Majo"" Gennll Goo- 
kin, Capt Prentice, & Capt Dan Hinchman, the Court grants 
their request, i. e., that their plantation at Quansigamond be 
called Worcester, & y' Capt Wing be added & appointed one of 
the comittee there, in y*^ roome of the deceased, & that their tonne 
brand marke be -^j-^-" It is well known that Daniel Gookin was 
the most influential and prominent of the little band that plan- 
ted the seeds of civilization within the borders of our city. 

He was born in Kent, England, in 1612, and was called the 
"Kentish Soldier." He is supposed to have arrived in Boston 
May 20, 1644. Subsequently he was elected Major General, or 
Commander-in-chief of the colony. In 1651 he was chosen 
Speaker of the House of Deputies. For over thirty years he 
was superintendent of the Christian Indians in the colon}-. He 
wrote a history of New England, which was never printed, and 
subsequently lost by fire ; he also wrote a history of the Chris- 
tian Indians, which is still preserved. Cotton Mather in his 
memoir of Thompson, a nonconformist divine of Virginia, lias 
the following quaint allusion to Gookin : 

A constellation of great converts there. 
Shone round him, and his Heavenhj giorii were. 
GooKiNS was one of these : by Thomjison's pains, 
Christ and New England a dear Gookins gains. 

At the time Worcester was named, 16«4, Charles the II. was 
King, and by his oppressive measures and tyranny, had incurred 



117 



the displeasure, opposition and moral resistance oC the colony, 
which resulted in the revocation of the first Charter two years 
later, IG.SG. Thirty years before, 1651, Charles the II. at the 
head of the royalists, fought at Worcester his great and losing 
battle against Cromwell, from which he barely escaped with his 
life. The battle of Worcester was called "Cromwell's crowning 
mercy." Crookiu visited England in IGoC, and remained there 
two or three 3'ears. He had an interview with Cromwell, and 
obtained some advantages for a certain class of emigrants to 
this couutr}-. Gookin, a Puritan himself, naturally was an ad- 
mirer of Cromwell ; a zealous nonconformist, he naturally hated 
the King who persecuted everything but royalty and the church. 
What was more natural than that the recollection of the King's 
crushing defeat at Worcester should originate the idea of giving 
the new settlement the name of the place where he was over- 
whelmed ? These facts furnish at least a respectable foundation 
for this tradition to rest upon, and it seems to me no visionary 
speculation to claim that the idea of naming the new settlement, 
Worcester, as a defiance to the King, originated in the mind of 
the "Kentish Soldier." 



The animal meetincr of the Society was held on the 
evenincr of Decem})er 5th. Hon. J. W. Lawrence, 
of St. Johns, N. B., President of the New Brunswick 
Historical Societ}-, was elected an honorary member. 

The following correspondence was then read, and 
ordered to be printed in the Proceedings for 1882 : — 

Worcester, Mass., Nov. 8, 1882. 
Rev. Samuel May, 

My dear sir : — The package containing this note of explanation 
also contains a complete set thus far of the publications of The 
Worcester Society of Antiquity. And while acting as a servant 
of that Society it affords me much pleasure to present through 



118 

3^ou to the Leicester Town Library these specimens of the ac- 
tivity and industry of the members of the Societ}' I huniblj^ 
represent. The cordial greeting and open-handed generosit}' 
which were so bountifully displayed by the good people of Leices- 
ter to those of us who were so fortunate as to visit your beautiful 
town last summer have not been forgotten ; and that trip will 
ever be remembered as one of our most delightful and profitable 
excursions. In behalf of the Leicester Town Library, please 
accept this gift from The Worcester Society of Antiquity. 

Very repectfully j-ours, 

E. B. CRANE, President. 

Leicester, J\lov. 20, 1SS2. 
To Ellery B. Cuane, Esq., President, &c. 

The Directors of the Leicester Public Librar}' have received 
from The Worcester Society of Antiquit}', through your hands as 
its President, the four volumes of the Collections of the Society. 

At a full meeting held on Wednesday- last, it v:a.s voted to 
send a special letter to your Societ}', in acknowledgement of this 
valuable and acceptable gift, and to express the tlianks of the 
Directors in behalf of the people of Leicester for the great pains 
the Society has taken to make this collection for us, and put it 
in a form so well fitted for use and preservation, even stamping 
each volume with the title of our Library ; and that the letter 
be signed by all the Directors. Our Library has alreadj- re- 
ceived from one of your members, Mr. T. A. Dickinson, a copy 
of your Society's pamphlet for 1881 — whole No. 17 — so that we 
now possess a perfect set of your publications, very mucli to 
our satisfaction. Maj' we not add a word as to the mecliauical, 
yes and artistic, completeness of these volumes? The firm and 
beautiful paper, the clear, exact, and tasteful typographv, and 
the solid and elegant binding of these books do great credit — 
if we may so say — to the taste and skill of the Society, beyond 
whose membership 3'ou have no need to go, we believe, to ac- 
complish all this thorough and handsome work. 

Please accept this letter as an imperfect expression of our 
thanks. Let it also convey to you an assurance of the continued 
pleasure we have in remembering the visit of your Society to 
Leicester in Jul}'^ last, and the meeting it then held here. 

We are very respectfully yours, 

A. H. COOLID(tE, 

T. E. woodcock, ) Directors of 

DEXTER KNIGHT, I Leicester 

H. O, SMITH, J Public Library. 

SAMUEL MAY. 



119 

The Annual Report of the Treasurer, Henry F. 
Stedman, was presented and accepted, as follows: — 



TREASURER'S REPORT. 

To the Officers and Members of 

The Worcester Society of Antiquity. 

Genllemcn: — Agreeable to the requirements of the by-laws 
of this Society, I herewith submit this Annual Report, showing 
the receipts and expenditures of the Society, from Jan. 3, 1882, 
to Dec. 5, 1882, as follows : — 



dk^l] fjedeived. 
1882. 

Assessments, . 
Admisisons, 
Donations, 
Sale of Proceeedings, 
Life membership, 
Ke^s sold, .... 



Br. 

$163,00 

18,00 

194,75 

44,55 

25,00 

,55 



da,s4| Paid. 

1882. Qr. 

Rent, $131,25 

Gas, 7,22 

Stationer}' & Printing 149,92 



Express & Postage, 

Binding, 

Supplies for rooms, 

Balance on hand. 



18,27 

5,53 

13,75 



$445,85 



$325,94 
119,91 

$445,85 



There are accounts due the Treasurer to the amount of $540. 
Respectfully submitted, 

H. F. STEDMAN, Treasurer. 



The Annual Report of the Librarian, Samuel E. 
Staples, was presented and accepted. It was accom- 
panied by an interesting sketch of the "Fifth Day 
Meeting" of early New England. 



LIBRARIAN'S REPORT, 



INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE THURSDAY LECTURE OF FORMER TIMES. 



Bt SAMUEL E. STAPLES. 



To the President and Members of 

The Worcester Society af Antiquity. 

OUR former Librarian, Mr. Albert A. Lovell, having sig- 
nified his intention at the last annual meeting, not to serve 
in that capacity another year, in m}' absense from the city, I had 
the honor, which I truly appreciate,' to be elected to that posi- 
tion, the duties of which I have endeavored to perform, devoting 
such time to the work required as I could spare from other en- 
gagements. I regret, however, that Mr. Lovell found it neces- 
sary to decline a re-election to a position he is so well qualified 
to occup}', and I desire here to express to him mj- personal obli- 
gations, and also the gratitude of the members of this Societj', 
for the great amount of labor performed in arranging and cata- 
loguing the library, and the general work accomplished for the 
benefit of this Society'. 

We are now approaching the close of the eighth 3ear of our 
existence as a Society, having been five years located in these 
rooms, most of our work having been done since we took pos- 
session of these apartments. Previous to that time our meetings 
were usuallj' held at the residences of the members, and we had 
no library that could be considered such, though a few books 
and pamphlets had been received, the first donation being a 
copy of "Worcester in the war of the Revolution," from the 
author, our former Librarian, Mr. Lovell. This was followed 
by Mr. Crane's "Genealogy of the Rawson Family," from the 
writer, several publications of the late Hon. Charles Hudson, 
contributed bj' him, and other contributions from Messrs. Daniel 
Seagrave, Richard OTlynn, Nathaniel Paine and Clark .lillson. 

At the annual meeting, Jan. 1, 1878, theLibrarian reported 
the accessions for the year, 3(32 volumes of books, 2027 i)am- 



121 

phlets, 1212 newspajjcrs, 159 catalogues, and a large number 
of circulars, programmes, prints, views, engravings and por- 
traits. At the next annual meeting, Jan. 7, 1879, there had 
been received during the year, 47U bound volumes, 125G pam- 
phlets, 509 magazines, besides newspapers, broadsides, circulars, 
manuscripts, prints, engravings and maps. During the year 
1879, there were received 487 bound volumes, 10G2 pamphlets, 
530 magazines, numerous manuscripts, engravings, portraits 
and newspapers. In 1880, the accessions amounted to 133 
bound volumes, 10G7 pamphlets, 15 volumes magazines, and 
various articles to our Cabinet collections. At the last annual 
meeting, the accessions reported were 165 bound volumes, 
657 pamphlets, and 26 miscellaneous articles. It will be noticed 
that the contributions in 1880 and 1881 were considerably' less 
than in the 3-ears immediately preceding. This year, there has 
been a gain, both in (juality and quantity, and I am gratified in 
being able to report that our accessions, since Jan. 1, 1882, have 
been 237 bound volumes, 1004 pamphlets, 242 magazines, 66 
almanacs, and 686 catalogues. More than 600 of the latter, 
were given by Mr. Richard O'Flynn, many of them being cata- 
logues of valuable private libraries, that have been sold at auc- 
tion sales in Boston, and New York, during a few years past. 

In summing up our accessions for the last five years, I find 
that we have received in the aggregate, 1404 bound volumes, 
and 6978 pamphlets, of which, 1998 have been received since the 
last report of the Librarian was made. We have also received 
many interesting articles for our Cabinet, a more particular no- 
tice of which will be made in the Department reports. 

[Since this report was submitted, and during the month of 
December, there were received 35 bound volumes, 69 pamphlets 
and a number of miscellaneous articles, including maps broad- 
sides and newspapers. These will make the amount received 
during the year 1882, to be 572 bound volumes, and 2067 pam- 
phlets, and the whole amount received since our organization, 
1439 bound volumes and 7047 pamphlets.] 

I desire to make special mention of the gift to the Societj^ 
by Stephen Salisbury Jr. Esq., of the North American Review, 
as issued ; b}' our Secretary, Mr. H. L. Shumway, the Magazine 



122 

of American History, and various other publications, and a 
number of volumes of the Annual of Scientific Discovery ; by 
Miss Ellen D, Larned, her History of Wintlham Counu-, Conn. ; 
by Charles C. Baldwin, his Baldwin Genealogy ; b}- Daniel Sea- 
grave Esq., his Genealogy of the Seagrave Family ; by George 
F. Daniels, his Huguenots in the Nipmuck Country ; by Henry 
M. Smith Esq., his Memorial volume of Hon. Charles Hudson, 
and also the balance of the pamphlet edition of the same ; by 
Mrs. Henry Chapin, the Address of her deceased husband, at 
Uxbridge, in 18G4 ; by Edward W. Lincoln Esq., a volume of 
his reports as chairman of the Commissioners of Public Grounds ; 
by Hon. John D. Baldwin, his Record of the Descendants of 
John Baldwin of Stonington, Ct. ; by Rev. Adin Ballou, his His- 
tory of Milford and other works of which he is the author ; by 
Dr. John G. Metcalf, his Annals of Meudon ; by C. B. Tilling- 
hast Esq., State Librarian, a set of the Plymouth Colon}- Rec- 
ords, and by Holmes Ammidown Esq., a valuable map of St. 
Augustine, Fla. Valuable donations have been received from 
Thomas Drew Esq., Mr. Lucien Prince, Mr. A. S. Roe, prin- 
of the High School, Vice President George Sumner, and from 
David S. Messinger Esq., a fine copy of Mather's Magnalia 
Christi Americana, 4to, edition 1702. 

Mr. C. C Stearns has favored the Society witli a set of his 
musical compositions, which we trust may be followed by other 
composers of this city. From the New England Historic Genea- 
logical Societ}', we have received the second volume of their 
Memorial Biographies, and the Genealogical Register as issued. 
The publishers of the Webster Times and Athol Transcript also 
contribute their papers as issued. 

The library work has been continued, and with the assistance 
of an active member of the Societ}', the Card Catalogue so well 
begun by my predecessor, has been nearly completed. 

We are not unmindful of contributions in multilld forms, by 
the President of the Society, Mr. Crane, by Hon. Clark .lillson, 
and the great labor performed by these gentlemen, and by Mr. 
Franklin P. Rice, which cannot be over estimated. Vjirions 
other donations to our library have been received, wliich we 
should like to make special mention of, but time forbids. 



123 

By oxcliangc with the American Anticniarian Society, through 
the assistance of their courteous Librarian, Mr. Edmund M. 
Barton, a set of their jiroeeedings has been completed, with the 
exception of two early nunil)ers, now out of print. Also, a set 
of the Annual Beports of the Worcester County Mechanics' 
Association, b}- the assistance of William A. Smith P'.sq., the 
efficient Secretary and Treasurer of the institution, and a com- 
plete set of the Transactions of the Worcester County Horticul- 
tural Societ}' through the aid and courtesy of Mr. Henry Phelps. 

The set of the Pennsylvania Magazine of Biography and his- 
tory has also been completed. A few volumes have been bound 
through the liberality of two of our members. We are greatly 
in need of money for binding purposes, and the wish is express- 
ed, that means may be furnished to carry on this important part 
of our work. We have many valuable publications, that ought 
at once to be placed in the hands of the binder, and I hope that 
much may be done in this direction during the year 1883. 

Our own i)ublications have become (piite numerous and val- 
uable, and a demand has arisen for them, which we have not, 
in all cases, been able to supply. Seventeen numbers have been 
issued, making four large octavo volumes, containing a large 
amount of historical matter, and the fifth volume will be com- 
pleted during the coming year. The receipts and expenses of 
the Librarian's office, appear in the report of the Treasurer. 

The additions to our Cabinet will receive proper notice in the 
reports to be submitted on that department. I cannot however, 
refrain from referring, with much satisfaction, to a gift from Mr. 
Alfred Waites, of a lieautiful oil painting, nicely framed, of Lake 
Quinsigamond, by Triscott, and a large engraving, the Authors 
of the United States. Dr. George Chandler has also contribu- 
ted to this department, and a valuable collection of relics of the 
late war has been received from John Boyden P^sq., which in 
due time will receive proi)er attention frorti the department of 
Military History. Mr. Joseph B. Knox has left in our custody 
the Brewster Mortar, which descended to him in a direct line 
from Elder William Brewster, of Mayflower fame. 



124 

We are under renewed obligations to our President, and to 
Mr. William B. Howe, for new shelving, during the present year. 
We find ourselves much crowded for room, and shall soon find 
it necessary for more aid in the same direction. To a number 
of other gentlemen we are under obligations for special favors, 
and to whom we now publicly express our thanks. 

Appended to this report will be found a full list of donors and 
donations for the year 1882. 

THE THURSDAY LECTURE. 

WHATEVER tends to enlighten our minds concerning 
the past, and increase our veneration for the great and 
good men of former generations, will not, I am sure, be con- 
sidered inappropriate or altogether useless upon this occasion. 
Reverence for the great and good, a desire to know more of their 
public and private life, a disposition to stud}' their noble charac- 
ters, that we may emulate their examples, will be productive, I 
doubt not, in improving the disposition and habits of all such 
as ma}' give proper consideration to these examples of virtue 
and knowledge, and strive with such ability as the\- possess, to 
perform well and truly their part in life, that the virtues of the 
fathers may be perpetuated in the children, unto the latest 
generations. 

More than two hundred and sixty years ago there landed up- 
on these shores a noble band of men and women, driven from 
home and the cherished land of their fathers, by the oppression 
of a tyrannical priesthood, that they might here find that liberty 
and freedom of thought and action, which was denied to them 
in the laud of their birth. Here they would establish themselves 
upon a virgin soil, untrodden except by the native red man, 
with no power to control their consciences or deter them from 
doing what seemed to them right, and consequently best to be 
done, and where they could found institutions, which in their 
judgment, enlightened by the pure word of God, should he the 
foundation of a free and prosperous people, a countr}' in which 
religious liberty should prevail, and where the exiled of all na- 
tions might find a peaceful home. 



125 

The paramount thought in the minds of these noble men and 
women, was to perpetuate a truly religious character; for upon 
this fabric rested their hopes of all future goodness and excel- 
lence. Nothing was left undone, which to them seemed neces- 
sary to secure this greatest of all blessings. The family was 
the church — the unit of the church universal.* Here the great 
principles of virtue and all goodness were instilled into the 
minds of the young, and loving obedience was respected and 
largely obtained, through the eftbrts of the godly fathers and 
mothers at the fireside-home. The seed there sown jielded an 
abundant fruitage, and characters were there formed whose 
influence has been felt in the generations that have followed, 
even unto the present da3\ The Christain Sabbath was held in 
great reverence by these devout persons, and its observance was 
strictly adhered to b}- abstaining from all unnecessary labor, and 
. by meeting in their houses of worship, that true religion might be 
fostered, and their Maker glorified by the loving adoration of 
His saints. t And not on Sundays, alone, did these Christain 
people meet for public worship ; but a day in the week was set 
apart for public religious service. And in this connexion I 
propose to give a brief account of the Thursday, or fifth daj'' 
lecture, as that meeting was termed. 

To Mr. John Cotton, one of the reverend pastors of the first 
church in Boston, belongs the honor of introducing that service 



* The apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, XVI. 3. 5., sends greet- 
ings nnto the Church in the house of Priscilla and Aquila ; and, in his first 
epistle to the Corinthians, XVI. 19. "Aquila and Priscilla salute you much 
in the Lord, with the Church that is in their house." And, again, in wri- 
ting to the Colossians, IV. 15., "Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, 
and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his house," 

t In a sermon preached by Dr. Increase Mather in 1721, he remarks: — 
"Good men have always walked in that way (The way everlasting,) Chosen 
that Way of Truth, laying the Judgments of GOD before them. It is the 
Way of Piety. They have always like Samuel Worshipped God and him 
ONLY ; and have been careful not to take the name of GOD in vain ; and 
have Sanctified the holy Sabbaths of GOD : Yea, Sanctifying the Sab- 
bath is indeed so great a part of Piety that it is put for all Religion. (Isai., 
LVIII. 13.) 



126 

upon these shores. Before coming to Boston, he had been ac- 
customed to hold such a meeting in old Boston, England, from 
whence he came, and where under the Gothic arches of St. Bo- 
tolph's it was first commenced. John Cotton was settled in 
Boston, as associate pastor with Rev. John Wilson, October 17, 
1633. Cotton Mather says, *'If Boston be the chief seat of 
New England, it was Cotton that was the father and glory of 
Boston." He was held in high esteem in England, being a pro- 
found preacher, and in addition to his Sabbath labors, it is re- 
corded, he had a Lecture every Thursday, at which multitudes 
thronged to hear him. 

Here we find the origin of the Thursday Lecture, an observ- 
ance which was continued many generations, and not entirely 
abandoned till a time within the memory of some now present. 
Mr. Cotton, himself, continued to oflflciate at this Lecture until 
his death, which took place in December, 1652, "ou the day, 
yea, at the very hour of his constant weekly labors in the Lec- 
ture, wherein he had been so long serviceable even to all the 
churches of New England." The Lectures were continued by 
Mr. Norton, the successor of Mr. Cotton. Mr. Wilson also 
oflflciated at times, an instance of which is related by Cotton 
Mather in his life of this divine, found in his Magnalia, Book 
III. p. 46, where he says, ''The Great Lecture of Boston, being 
disappointed of him that should have preached it, Mr. Wilson 
preached that Lecture on a Text occurring in the Chapter that 
had been read that morning in his family — Jer. XXIX. H — 'Nei- 
ther hearken to your dreams, which you cause to be dreamed ;' 
from whence he gave a seasonable warning unto the people 
against the dreams wherewith sundry sorts of opinionists have 
been endeavoring to seduce them. It was the last Boston Lec- 
ture that ever he preached," November 16, 1665. 

As tending somewhat to show the interest felt in this fifth 
day service, I quote the words of Allen, in his biography of 
Norton, where he says, "a good man of Ipswich used fre- 
quentl}' to walk to Boston, then a distance of about thirty miles, 
to attend the Thursday Lecture, and would say, that it was 
worth a great journey to unite in one of Mr. Norton's prayers." 



127 

Those Lectures were sustained by the pastors of the first 
church, till 1()7'J, but at this time there were three churches in 
the town, and a desire was expressed that the other pastors 
should perforu a part of this service. An order was passed by 
the magistrates, that "all the Elders of this towne might joyntly 
carry on the fifth day Lecture." The order was thought to be 
an infringement upon religious liberty, and on the records of 
the Church stands the following reply : "In answer to y* Hon'"'^ 
Magistrates about the Lecture ; Tho as an injunction wee can- 
not concur with it, but doe humbly bare our wituesse against 
it, as apprehending it tending to y^ infringement of Church Lib- 
ertie ; yett if the Lord incline the hearts of the other Teaching 
officers, to give y" assistance with those of this Church, who 
shall bee desired to carry on their fifth da}- lecture, wee are 
willing to accept theire help therein." 

Important as this week-da^- service was thought to be by the 
Elders and people for many 3'ears, it was hardly to be expected 
that the same interest could be continued for a long period of 
time, without there being seasons when other matters would 
attract the attention of the people, and to some extent lessen 
in their judgnent the comparative importance of the Thursday 
Lecture. The leading men, however, were constant, to a large 
extent, in their adherence to this stated service. Chief Justice 
Sewall manifested a deep concern in this institution, and he it 
was who "sot the tune" in order that the conuregation might 
join in singing the praises of God in His sanctuary. In April, 
1697, Cotton Mather gave notice that the Lecture would from 
that time begin at 11 o'clock, instead of 12, and reproved the 
town's people that the}- attended no better ; and declared that 
it would be an omem of their not enjoying the Lecture long if 
the}- did not amend. 

On Thursday morning, the 2Gth of January, 1715, the clouds 
looked dark and threatening, and there followed a vehement 
snow storm with the wind driving from the northeast. The 
Chief Justice made his way through drifts of snow, and when in 
tlie old meeting house, he not only set the tune, but counted the 
worshipers, and he tells us that "the number consisted of but 
sixteen women and two hundred men." The manner in which 



128 

he makes this statement would seem to indicate that this was a 
small attendance ; but when we remember, not only the want of 
comforts in the meeting house of that day, but the great inclem- 
ency of the season, the wonder is, not that so few were present, 
but that any should have been there upon such an occasion, 
though important the meeting was thought to be. 

The Rev. Mr. Waterston, in a sermon delivered at a Thurs- 
day Lecture in Boston, in 1843, informs us, that for sixty years 
after the time referred to above, "the Lecture was constantly 
sustained, with the exception of two months in 1734, when it 
was omitted every other week, on account of a lecture at Cam- 
bridge. Thus did it go on until 1775, when, during the siege 
of the town, it was for a time, with reluctance, suspended." 
He further remarks that "on the Thursday preceding the battle 
of Bunker Hill, the Lecture was held as usual. On the da}- pre- 
ceding Dr. Eliot preached, and on the week following Dr. Mather 
preached. Thus amid the shouts of war did this service speak 
with its 'still small voice,' Through five months of painful trial 
the Lecture was only omitted five times ; and during that period 
was alternately preached by Dr. Eliot and Dr. Mather. By the 
middle of November the difficulties became so great, that on 
the 30th of that month the Lecture was brought, for a season, 
to a close." The Lecture was resumed immediately after the 
British evacuated Boston, March 17, 1776 ; the officers of the 
American army and Washington himself attended the service. 
Dr. Eliot preached an appropriate discourse from Isa. XXXHl. 
20: "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities; thine eyes 
shall see Jerusalem a quiat habitation, a tabernacle that shall 
not be taken down." 

The Thursday Lecture afforded an opportunity for the minis- 
ters to discourse upon subjects that might have been considered 
of too secular a character for the usual Sabbath services. Ques- 
tions concerning the welfare of the people in their political life 
and every day walk, were considered. J^ven the wearing of 
veils served to call forth sermons for and against the custom. 

The suitable training of the young was considered a vei-y im- 
portant matter by the early New England clergy. In the year 
1721, beginning Jan. 23d, a course of eight sermons on Early 



129 

Piet}' was delivered at the Thursda}- Lecture, b}- the leading 
Polders who sustained this week-day meeting. The first was b}'' 
Dr. Cotton Mather, from the text, I. Chron, XXIX. 19 : ''Give 
unto Solomon my Son a Perfect Heart," — subject. The Pious Pa- 
rent's Wishes. The next discourse was upon "The Nature of 
Early Piety as it respects God." This was delivered at Boston- 
Lecture, March 30, 1720-1, by Benjamin Wadsworth, A. M., 
from Psalms XXXIV. 2., "-Come ye Children, hearl'en unto me: 
I will leach you the fear of the Lord;" and the doctrine set forth 
was as follows : ^'■That Children, Young Persons, should make 
it their chief, principal care and business to Fear God!, to be Sin- 
cerely and Practically Pious." The next Lecture, April 6, 1 791 , 
was by Mr. Coleman, upon "The Nature of Early Piety as it 
respects Men," the text being taken from Ephesians VI. 2 : — 
Honor thy Father and Mother, ivhich is the First Commandment 
loith Promise. 

These were followed by Mr, Sewall, on Early Piety, as it re- 
spects ourselves ; by Mr. Prince, on The Obligations to Early 
Piety ; by Mr. Webb, on The Advantages of Early Piety ; by Mr. 
Cooper, on Objections Answered ; and on the 18th of May, 1721 , 
by Mr. Foxcroft, giving Exhortations and Directions to Young 
People founded upon the text, 2d Epistle to Timothy, II. 22. 

"When the Eight Sermons were coming abroad ; the Minis- 
ters who Preached them waited on their Venerable Father Dr. 
Increase Mather, who was then in the Eighty Third year of his 
age, with a request that he would permit some Discourse of His 
on that important subject, tho' never so short an one, to be 
ushered in by Theirs ; which he might let fall as a Mantle to 
us, now God is quickly taking him awa}- from our stead. In an- 
swer to their Desire, he preached the short sermon, that is now 
to fasten the Nails that have been in the preceding Essays, of 
which the subjects are here given. His text was from 1 Sam. 
VIII. 5 : They said^ unto Samuel, Thy Sons walk not in tJiy 
loays." The circumstances mentioned. Oblige us to conclude, 
(say the authors of these eight sermons,) Now these are some 
of the Last Words, to be Expected from a Faithful Servant of 
GOD, Finishing his Testimony, to those Ways of Early Piety, 
whereof GOD has made him an P^minent Instance as well as a 
Renowned Preacher. 



130 

Upon the publication of these discourses, the preface to the 
volume was written by the revered Dr. Increase Mather, and is 
dated, Boston, July 4, 1721, in which he says, "I am going the 
Wa}' of all the Earth, and have been many years Longing for that 
Blessed Hour, when I shall {I have a Good Hope thro Grace) be 
received into the Everlasting Habitations, into that worlds tvhich 
no Sin and no Temptation to Sin in it, and where CHRIST is 
to be seen in His Wondrous Glories. But Thou, Lord, Hoio 
Long! As Polycarp going to dy, gave his Testimony, That he 
had served CHRIST more than Four-score Years, and had al- 
ways found a Good Master of Him, I tooidd noiv also Dy bear- 
ing my Testimony for Him, who in my Early life mercifully 
Seized me for Himself, That in all my Pilgrimage I have also 
found a Good Master of that Glorious Lord. But ivhcd a Good 
Master I shall find Him, I know not now, I shall know Here- 
after. I shall not know till He send for me ! — Which, O m^- 
GOD and SAVIOR, I am daily waiting for: — Why is thy 
Chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the Wheels of thy 
Chariot !" 

The most serious questions concerning man's spiritual wants 
were made prominent upon these lecture daj-s. The most learn- 
ed men of the times. Cotton, Wilson, Norton, Chauncey and 
others, and the leading men of later periods, have helped to 
magnify the importance of this service. Often these days were 
observed as days of Thanksgiving for special favors, and again, 
as occasions of fasting and prayer, when God's judgments were 
in the land. 

Whatever else ma}- be said of our ancestors, one thing is 
sure, they were a devout and God-fearing people. Who can 
estimate the value of their self-sacrificing spirit, and the week- 
day gatherings for public worship ? Here were the people in- 
structed in the duties of life, its individual character, the duties 
of parents and children in the home ; their obligations as citi- 
zens, their responsibilities in all matters of public concern. Here 
they learned wisdom to direct and guide them in all their affairs, 
and to them are we indebted for much that we enjoy to-day. 



131 

DONATIONS. 

Academy of Science, St Louis, Mo. — Transactions, vol. IV. No. 2. 

Allen, "Willard S., East Boston.— Proceedings N. E. Methodist Historical 
Society, 1881, 1882. 

American Antiquarian Society. — Proceedings Oct. 1881, April 1882. Ti- 
tle Page and Index to their Proceedings, new series. Vol. I. 

Ammidoavn, Holmes, New York City. — His first and second papers on the 
"History of Tariff Legislation ;" map of St. Augustine, Elorida. 

Arcileological Institute of America. — Third An'l Report. First Annual 
Report of Committee on American School of Classical studies at Athens. 

Arnold, James N.. Hamilton, R. I.— The Narragansett Historical Register, 
vol L No. I., July 1882, vol. I. No. 2. 

AsTOR Library, New York City. — 33d Annual Report. 

Baldavin, Charles C, Cleveland, 0, — His Baldwin Genealogy from 1500 
to 1881, 3 pamphlets. 

Baldwin, John D. — His Record of the descendants of John Baldwin, of 
Stonington Conn. 

Ballou, Rev. Adin, Milford, Mass. — His History of the Town of Milford; 
his Practical Christian Socialism ; his Memoir of Adin Augustus Ballou ; 
his Primitive Christianity and its Corruptions ; 25 tracts and pamphlets 
of his authorship ; 2 copies of Sermon by Rev. Bernard Whitman at the 
Installation of Rev. Adin Ballou ; 1 voh Friendly Letters to a Univer- 
salist, by B. Whitman ; 2 vols. Cooper's sermons ; 5 vols. U. S. Pub. Doc. 

Barton. William S. — The Connoisseur, by Mr Town, 4 volumes. 

Bates, Phineas jR.,Boston. — 1 volume Documents, School Committee of 
Boston, 1881 ; 1 volume procedings of School Committee, 1881 ; 2 vols. 
Annual Rej)ort, School Committee of Boston,1881 ; School Doc. as issued. 

Bicknell, Quincy, Hingham. — 2 pamphlets. 

Blackmer, Francis T. — 1 pamphlet. 

Blake, Francis E., Boston.— Memoirs of Roger Clap ; Journal of Richard 
Mather ; Annals of Dorchester by James Blake ; Genealogical History of 
the Blake Family ; The Stage Register, 1830; half century sermon, by 
John Gushing, A. M. 

Boyden, John. — Chapeau of the Worcester State Guard, sword, belt, mus- 
ket, amunition. Confederate Hag, Confederate bills, grape shot, muster 
roll of Capt. P. A. Kennedy's Co., 8th Reg. N. C. state troops, of the 
Confederate States of America, 18G1 ; electoral ticket, Confederate States ; 
letter by A. B. R. Sprague, written at Roanoke Island, Feb. 19, 1862, an- 
nouncing the battle of Roanoke, and the noble conduct of the 25th Reg- 
iment of volunteers. 

Chandler. George. — A pair of Metallic Tractors ; His Photograph ; War 
relics from Fort Erie ; his engraved Portrait for this publication ; India 
Proof I'ortraits of Z. & M. II. Chandler : 1 copy No. IV. of our Pub. 

Charin, Louisa T. — 1 book; address at Uxbridge, 18G4, by Henry Chapin. 

City Messenger, Boston. — 1 vol. Records, 1660-1701 ; 1 pamphlet. 

Clarke. Robert & Co. Cincinnati, 0. — Catalogue and circulars. 

Clemence, Henry M. — Fireman's Bucket, 1793, formerly belonging to 
Samuel Allen who was 40 years County Treasurer ; Fireman's Bag, 1791, 
used by Nathaniel Bemis ; 1 book. 



132 

Cook, Norton L. — Repairing clock ; 5 pamphlets, 2 books, files of "The 
Word,""The Essex Statesman, ""The Commoner" and the "Investigator ;" 
65 miscellaneous papers and a lot of tracts ; 11 nos. WoodhuU & Clafliu's 
weekly ; piece of the Clock Dial from old meeting house, Leicester. 

Crane, Ellerv B. — 2 prints, Cornish Corporate Seals and Masonic Arch ; 
lumber for shelves, binding 6 vols, register, 14 U. S. cents — some rare — 
28 pamphlets, 49 catalogues, 3 books, 7 vols. "Banker and Tradesman." 

Daniels, Geo. F., Oxford. — His "Huguenots in the Nipmuck Country." 

Da-v-enport Academy of Natural Sciences, Davenport, Iowa. — Proceedings, 
vol. III. part II. 

Davis, D. A. — 1 sheet of music, 

Davis, William. — 1 book, 7 pamphlets. 

Dodge, Benj. J. — 7 pamphlets, 7 nos. Daily Spy. 

Drew, Allis & Co.— 3 vols. Worcester Directory, 1880, 1881, 1882. 

Drew, Thomas, Boston. — 65 pamphlets. 

Essex Institute, Salem, Mass. — Essex Bulletin as published. 

Forehand, Sullivan. — 13 vols. U. S. Public Documents, 8 directories. 

GoDDARD, Lucius P. — Complete file of the Weely Bulletin of the Y. M. C. 
Association of Worcester ; 150 pragrammes, circulars cards and pamphlets. 

Green, Samuel A. , Boston. — 2 pamphlets relating to Groton, Mass. 

Harding, William B. — 1 stone axe. 

Hall, J. Brainard — Annual Report of the Chief Signal Officer to the Sec- 
retary of War for 1879 ; 1 volume messages and documents. 

Harlow, George H. — Continental medal, 1880. 

Harris, Clarendon. — Tribune almanac, 2 Farmer's, do., 1 American, do. 

Hastings, Thomas J. — 14 pamphlets. 

Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. — University Bulletin as issued. 

Haven, Mrs. S. F. — Memorial of Samuel Foster Haven, LL. D. 

Hemenway, Miss Abby M. — Clarke Papers and other selections. 

Henshaw, Miss Harriet E., Leicester. — 1 pamphlet, collection of portraits. 

Historical Society of Pennsylvania. — Pennsylvania Magazine as issued. 
First two vols, and No. 13 by exchange. 

Howard, Joseph Jackson LL. D,, London, Eng. — Miscellania Geneologica 
et Heraldica, as published, 

Howe, William B, — Labor making book shelves, 

Inman, Wm. H. — Piece of car sill, shattered by the Dualin explosion, Wor- 
cester June 23, 1870. 

JiLLsoN, Clark.— Mammoth shears used in finishing cloth ; 16 pamphlets, 
18 books, 3 newspapers ; Granite Monthly in continuation 12 nos. : por- 
traits of Elihu Burritt : an Indian skull: invitation from the Historical 
Society of Baltimore: ancient specimen of pottery, probably of Huguenot 
origin : maps of Newark and of New York : his "Inklings of Song," and 
2 copies of his address on "New Hampshire and Vermont," 

Johnson, Chas. R, — Reports of the New York Stock Exchange, 1881, 3 pam- 
phlets. 

JosLiN, Henry V. A,, Providence, R. I. — 3 books. 



133 

Kansas Histouical Society, Topeka, Kansas. — First and second biennial 
reports from the organization, 1875, to Jan. 1881. 

Kneedlek, H. S, Iowa City, Iowa. — By exchange, lleport of the (Jenealog- 
ical Survey of the state of Iowa, in two volunes, by James Hall; Souv- 
enir and almanac, 1881-2, History of College Journalism, and 7 pamphlets. 

Knowlton, T. S., West Erooklield. — 2 pamphlets. 

Knox, J. B. — ^lortar, once owned by Elder William Brewster, on deposit. 

Larned, Miss Ellen D., Thompson, Ct. — Her History of Windham County. 

Lawrence, Edward R. — 1 Book. 

LxBRAiiY Committee, of Philadelphia. Bulletin, nos. 8, 9. 

Lee, Pardon A. — Letter box, 1 drill, 1 broadside, 1 turtle shell, 1 book, 1 
English fourpenny,1752, 1 agricultural report, 1879. 

Leland, E .J., Grafton, Mass. — Cut nails used by Levi Leland, 1806. 

Lincoln, Edward W.- — Transactions of the Horticultural Society fori 881 : 
his annual report as Chairman of the Commission of Public Grounds : al- 
so bound volume of his Report as Chairman of the Commission of Shade 
Trees and Public Grounds. 

LiTTLEFiELD, Geo. E., Boston. — 5 catalogues. 

LovELL, Albert A. — His sketch of the life of Major Ezra Beaman. 

Marble, Albert P.— His address before the Hudson high school, June 30, 

1882 : 7 copies his report of the Worcester schools, 1881 : 1 volume of the 

National Council of Education, 3 pamphlets, 
Marshall, Elijah II. — 1 floor brush, 1 basket, 1 Indian gouge, 3 almanacs, 

12 pamphlets, 1 circular, 3 advertising cards, 1 book. 

McLellan, J. A., Toronto, Canada. — Report of the Minister of Education 
for the year 1880, 1881. 

Merrifield, Lucius. — 1 portrait broadside. 

Merriman, Rev. Daniel. — His "Sober VicAvs of Abstinence." 

Messinger, David S. — Magnalia Christi Americana, or the History of New 
England, London edition, 1702. 

Metcalf, John G., Mendon, Mass.— -His Annals of the town of Mendon. 

Miller, Henby W. — Machine used in making paper, imported from Eng- 
land in 1818. 

Narragansett Historical Society., Hamilton, R. I. — Their Historical 
Magazine as issued. 

New England Historic Geneological Society. — New England Historical 
and Genealogical Register as published; their Proceedings for 1882, vol. 
11. Memorial Biographies. 

O'Flynn, Richard. — His History of Father Mathew Temperance Society of 
Worcester, ; a collection of manuscripts, G02 sale catalogues, 2 pamphlets, 
4 books, 4 serial publications. 

Paine, Nathaniel.— Paine Family Record, No. 13, IG ; do. July 1881, do, 
vol. II. No. (3 ; New England ancestry of President Gartield ; his report 
for the Council of the American Antiquarian Society, April, 1881 ; Pro- 
ceedings of the American Antiquarian Society at the presentation of the 
portrait of Samuel Foster Haven, LL. D. Centennial of the Massachu- 
setts Constitution, Tithingmen. by H. B. Adams, Village Hymns, 3 nos. 
Our Continent., U. S. post-office laws, 1793, G pamphlets. 



134 

Peck, Augustus. — 5 engravings, framed photograph of Rev. Seth Sweetscr, 
1 portfolio, 2 pieces wood from ship Sparrowhawk, 9 pamphlets. 

Peirce Henry B. — The Public Statutes of Massachusetts. 

Phelps, Henry. — 19 pamphlets, 10 almanacs, 189 tracts, 92 nos. Missionary 
Herald. A facsimile of the bullet Hred by Sergeant Mason, Sept 11, 18.S1, 
at Charles J. Guiteau. producing a profile likeness of the assassin as it 
struck the wall of the prison. 

Phelps, Mrs. Henry. — 1 broadside. 

Phillips, Rev. Geo. W. — 1 pamphlet. The Battle of Groton Heights ; his 
Decennial Sermon, January 1 , 1882. 

Pratt, Sumner. — 1 English newspaper. 

Prince. Lucien. — A horse shoe, 7x9 inches, taken from a horse from the 
Pineries of Northern Wisconsin. 31 books, 30 pamphlets, 17 copies Laws 
and Resolves, Mass., 3 autograph letters. 

Putnam & Davis. — 26 catalogues, 44 pamphlets, 60 circulars and papers : 
47 serial publications, 10 broadsides and cards : 2 Church almanacs, 1 
volume Publisher's Trade List, portion of an Alligator's Hide. 

Raymond, Tilly. — Lock taken from the old Court House built in 1801, at 
the time of its removal and enlargement in 1857. 

Raymore, Henry E. — 3 colored Lithographs of the Troubadours. 

Rice, Franklin P. — 27 pamphlets, 6 books, 14 magazines, 4 catalogues, 2 
almanacs, 6 portrait broadsides, file of the Republic: sample of powder 
used at the bombardment of Charlcstown, S. C. 1864 : newsjDaper cuttings, 
binding Suffolk Deeds, his "Sketches of the Presidents of the United 
States, from AVashington to Arthur," and a copy of the story of Peter 
Rugg: a collection of newspapers and broadsides. 

Rice, William W. — 9 volumes U. S. Public Documents. 

Rice, William W., Springfield Mass, — Volume Proceedings of Connecticut 
Valley Historical Society, 1876-1881. 

Roe, Alfred S. — 16 magazines, 13 nos, Massachusetts' Teacher, 3 news- 
papers, 81 sermons and papers of Rev. Levi Pillsbury, Avho graduated at 
Dartmouth College in 1798: 3 Church Manuals, framed Memorial of 
President Harrison, a collection of papers, the Nation, and Congressional 
Record : 4 catalogues, 1 programme. 

Salisbury, Stephen Jr. — 11 nos. North American Review. 

Seagrave, Daniel. — Piece of car wheel from the Dualin explosion in AVor- 
cester. 

Sheldon, George, Deerfield, Mass. — 1 paper. 

Shumavay Henry L, — 85 pamphlets, 7 newspapers and newspaper cutting's, 
5 copies Miniature Evening Gazette, numerous circulars, and 10 numbers 
Magazine of American History. 

Smith, Henry M. 43 copies his Memorial of Hon. Chas. Hudson, 12 Pam- 
phlets, 1 book, 1 broadside, circular and paper. History of the Normal 
School at Bridgewater, 

Smith, James A. — 1 book ; framed photograph of the old Guard House, Rut- 
land, Mass. 

Smith. John G. Manuscript of particular or sub-division of lands, lots, and 
buildings, within the town of Boy Iston, assessment District No. 17, in 
the 7th Division, state of Mass., owned or occupied the first day of October, 



135 

17!)8. Miuiuscript records of the Peace Society of Windham County, Conn. 

Smith, William A. — (! copies reports Worcester Co, Mechanics' Association. 

Stearns, Cassius C. — His Mass in D, Mass in A ; his Tautum Ergo and 18 
musical compositions of which he is the composer. 

Staples, Hamilton B. — His Origin of the names of the States of the Union. 

Staples, Samuel E. — 3 books, 36 pamphlets, 8 almanacs, 1 broadside, 5 
newspapers, 8 nos. Boatswain's Whistle, proceedings at the inauguration 
of Liberia College, at Monrovia, January 23, 18G2. 

State Historical Society, Wisconsin. — 88th annual report. 

Stoddard, Elijah B. — His Inaugural Address as Mayor of Worcester, 1882. 
1 volume, report on the pollution of Blackstone River. 

Stone, Augustus. — 3 magazines, 5 pamphlets, 2 catalogues, 4 papers ; stat- 
utes of the United States, third session 4(5th Congress. 

Sullivan Bros. & Liebie. — 7 catalogues. 

Sumner. George. — 5 bound volumes, "Living Age;" 1 do. life of John B* 
Gough, 1 do. Horace Greeley ; life and labors of Elihu Burritt ; 4 steel 
portraits of Presidential Candidates, 1876, and one Avood poi trait of Chas. 
Sumner ; 75 pamphlets, 1 manuscript, 1 thanksgiving proclamation, 10 
broadsides, 3 directories, 6 Garfield memorial papers, a gimlet- pointed 
screw used in making a piece of furniture 100 years old ; framed group 
of portraits from Ambrotypes taken in 1854 ; large collection of the Daily 
Spy and Evening Gazette ; 4 war maps. 

Thayer & Washburn. — Nos. 1 & 2 of the Owlet. 

Thompson, Eben F. — 1 almanac, 1 pamphlet, history of first church, Charles- 
town ; centennial cards and souvenirs, 1 newspaper, 3 books, 1 foot stove, 
collection of engravings. 

Thompson, Edward H. — 1 no. Popular Science Monthly. 

TiLLiNGHAST, C. B., Boston. — Plymouth Colony Records in 12 volumes 4to. 

Titus, Anson Jr. — His "Sabin Family of America." 

TowNE, Enoch H. — 1 pamphlet, 1 book. 

TowNLEY, Joseph B. — 1 mounted engraving. 

Tucker, Ephriam. — Muster Roll Lieut. Durgin's company (R) of the tenth 
Reigment Veteran reserve corps, on duty at the trial of the conspirators 
of the Lincoln assassination ; Chinese Coin, 

Tyler & Seagtave, — 2 pamphlets ; voting lists, Worcester, 1867. Speci- 
mens of printing; 10 broadsides; genealogical papers relating to the 
Batchellor family: 15 papers, collection of posters and circulars. 

Tyler, Albert. — Files of the Woonsocket Daily Patriot, 1 Bickerstaff 
almanac, 1 pewter spoon from the family mould of Moses Cooper of Provi- 
dence, R. I.: his "Battle of Bennington :" volume II. III. & IV. of the 
Polyanthus : miniature edition of the History of tne Revolution, 4 alma- 
nacs, 1 pampelet containing his report as School Committee of Oxford : 
1 pamphlet. The Law of Kindness, by Elihu Burritt: invitation cards, 1 
pamphlet, 24 Robert B. Thomas almanacs. 

Tyler, Newell. — His Genealogy of the Tyler, Taft, Wood, Bates and Hill 
families, ancestors of Newell Tyler and wife. 

Waites, Alfred, — Framed oil painting af Lake Quinsigamond, by Triscott, 
framed steel engraving. 

Wall, Calrb A. — 1 programme. 



13G 

Wesky, Herbert. — 1 book. 12 pamphlets, 7 papers and circiilars, 1 broadside. 

Weshy, Edward. — 3 pi\mphkts. 

W'esby, J. S. & Son. — Catalogue of Hyde Park Public library, list of patents 
July to Docembor, 1880: t!l pimiphlcts, 8 papers, 38 uos. Christian Cjnio- 
suro, 2 portlblios and 2 book covers. 

Western Resertk and Northern Ohio Historical Society, Cleveland O. — 
Proceedings 14th annual meeting. May 7, 1882. 

Whittemoke. Arigail, — Scott's Bible, with marginal notes, live volumes. 

Wilder, Hakvey B. — Two sermons delivered before the Ancient imd Hon- 
orable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. 

Worcester Five Cent Saaings Bank. — 1 pamphlet. 

Y.U.E College. — 5 college pamphlets. 



Officers for the ensums vear were elected. Mr, 
Samuel E. Staples, who was elected Librarian, resig- 
ned at the January meetiuij, 1SS3, and Mr. Thomas 
A. Dickinson was elected to fill the vacancy. The 
officers for 1S83 are as follows: 

President: Ellerv B. Crane. 1st. Vice President : 
Albert Tolman : 2d Vice President : Georire Sumner. 
Secretary: Henry L. Shumway. Treasurer: Henry 
F. Stedman. Librarian: Thomas A. Dickinson. 
Committee on Nominations for three years: William 
H. Bartlett. 

The Secretary and Treasurer were sworn to the 
proper discharge of their duties by Chirk Jillson Esq. 

It was yoted that the annual assessment for 18S3 
should be 83,00 per member. 



DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



On aiiiionncinir the names oftlie members assio^n- 
ed to the De[)artment of Military History, at the 
reu'uhir meetintj: in Julv, President Crane made the 
following appropriate remarks: 

Members of The V'orcesfer Soc'iely of Anliqidly. 



Gentlemen : — In accordance with the instructions given me 
l)y a vote at onr last reunlar meeting, I hereby institute a new 
department of work, to be known and styled ''Military History." 

On our roll of membershii) we have the names of man}' per- 
sons who were prominent and active in the last great struggle 
to perpetuate the life of our National Government. It was a 
desperate contlict, one ever to be memorable in the annals of our 
state and nation ; and as it is the province of this Society to 
collect and perpetuate all matters of historical interest, it occurs 
to me that one of the most desirable and commendable things 
we can do is to give a portion of our time to this special branch 
of history, particularly as we can now have the help of so man^- 
individuals who can speak and write from personal knowledge, 
and also for the reason that while we accumulate records re- 
lating to this conflict, we shall amass items of great local interest, 
inasmuch as it will embrace an account of some of the deeds 
and sacrifices of citizens of the City of Worcester and "Worcester 
County. 



138 

REPORT OK ARCHEOLOGY AND GENERAL HISTORY. 

THE past 3'ear has witnessed great activity in the field of 
archaeological research. If space permitted it would be a 
pleasant task to chronicle the results of the labors of eminent 
scholars and scientists in different parts of the world. Some- 
thing of this sort has been attempted in each of the Reports of 
this Department heretofore, but never with sufficient complete- 
ness of detail to be satisfactorj-. Much more would this be true 
of any effort to condense into the form of a report the accumu- 
lated discoveries of the last twelve months. Such a work, how- 
ever briefly it might be written, would exceed the limits of a 
large volume. It therefore seems obvious that a departure from 
former custom is not only expedient but necessary. 

If our Society could offer any example of actual work of its 
own in the line of this department the record of that work would 
have an important place in this report, but unfortunately such 
is not the case. There seems, however, to be no good reason 
for any lack of this sort upon our part. We have men enough 
who are interested in the subject, and whose attainments would 
justify large expectations of them ; we have opportunities for 
investigation in our immediate vicinity, and those opportunities 
can be taken advantage of with comparatively little expense and 
certainly with no danger. To be sure we have not the rich 
fields of research which exist in various parts of the old world 
or which are to be found elsewhere on this continent. We have 
nothing like the gigantic monuments of Egypt, the marbles of 
Greece and Rome, or the huge edifices of Mexico and Central 
America, but we have scattered broadcast before us the traces 
of an ancient race, of whose origin there is no history, and 
whose remains afford the best chance of studying the character 
of a people in the stone age of any that exist. 

We do not know nearly all that is to be known of the Mohe- 
gans, Narragansetts, Pequods, Wampanoags and other New 
England tribes, though our ancestors first made their acqunin- 
tance almost three centuries ago. A careful study of Indi.in 
hieroglyphics might give us the key to the Dighton rock inscrip- 
tions ; an exhaustive investigation of aboriginal traditions would 



139 

perhaps solve the mystery of the old Newport tower. These 

arc but hints at the possibilities attendant upon an awakened 

interest in the archaeology of our own country, It is to be hoped 

that the suosjfcstious here oilered will not be without ellect in 

securing for the subject that attention from our nienjbers which 

it so justly merits. 

CHAllLES R. JOHNSON, Chairman. 



REPORT ON LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY. 

THE average American is so much engrossed in the making 
of history, that he can not, or will not take the time to 
place it on record. While we are engaged in our counting 
rooms, factories, stores or workshops, absorbed with the cares, 
anxieties and perplexities that come with each recurring day, 
we little realize all that is going on outside in the great onward 
march of progress. The panorama of life steadily moves on, 
while we float listlessly upon the surface of the mighty current. 
We heed not the ordinary changes that take place ; not until 
some heavy stroke falls at our very feet do we stop to look up, 
and even then it is but for a moment. The mighty flood sweeps 
on, undermining and carrying away cherished and familiar land- 
marks that were our delight in boyhood and our pride in man- 
hood ; sires and grandsires, — they too go down and are soon 
forgotten. But lest all should be lost in oblivion the fates have 
permitted a certain class of persons in the community, weak- 
minded perhaps, but as they are largely in the minority there is 
no cause of fear for the race, call then by what name you may, 
newsmongers, chroniclers, literary curiosity seekers, historical 
investigators, garret rummagers, antiquarians, or historiograph- 
ers, who are doing the country noble service. Their hearts are 
in their work, they are not easily disturbed from following the 
bent of their minds, and their eflbrts will be more and more 
appreciated as time rolls on. To the class of persons just re- 
ferred to we perhaps may claim relationship, and as a duty as 
well a.s a pleasure let us continue active in the work before us. 



140 

The year 1882 has been no exception in the rapid growth and 
prosperity of Worcester. Perhaps there has been no season 
when more has been done to add beauty, convenience, and wealth 
to our prosperous city. Many of the old streets have been ex- 
tended, straightened, widened and re-graded ; new shops have 
been erected and old ones enlarged, while numerous dwelling 
houses have sprung into being to accommodate the large increase 
of population. But of this we can only speak in a general way, 
for we must pass on to review the long list of laborers who in 
their several spheres have done what they could to help build 
up and enrich our city and her surroundings. 

The first name on our roll is that of Thomas Melvin Lamb, 
who died December 29, 1881, at the age of 51 years. He was 
a native of Worcester, a jeweller by trade, and for more than 
30 years occupied the same store in Harrington Block, at the 
corner of Main and Front streets. Mr. Lamb was a man of 
sound judgment, thoroughly industrious and strictl}' honorable 
in all his dealing. He took considerable interest in the welfare 
of this Society of which he was a member ; a worthy tribute of 
respect to his memory will be contributed by one of our mem- 
bers, and receive a place in our Proceedings for this year. 

Next on the list of deaths among the sous of Worcester, we 
find the name of Delano A. Goddard. He was son of Benjamin 
Goddard, who came to this town from Royalston in this state, 
and for a time was associated with the late Ichabod Washburn 
in establishing and building up the wire business. Mr. Goddard 
was born in that part of the town known as Northville, Aug. 
27, 1832. Early displaying a fondness for studj' he fitted him- 
self for college in the Worcester schools. He then spent a year 
at Brown University, but in 1850, entered Yale College as a 
sophmore and graduated with his class in 1853. He soon took 
up journalism as a profession, being employed in various posi- 
tions, on the Herald at Painesville, Ohio, the Chronide of Bos- 
ton, and the Transcript of this city, whe?i in 1859 he began his 
connection with the Spy which was continued for about 9 years. 
In 18G8 Mr. Goddard became the editor-in-chief of the Boston 
Daily Advertiser. Here his experience and skill as a writer 
enabled him to maintain that paper in a position fully up to the 



141 

high standard of Journalism to which it had previously been 
accorded. Mr. Goddard was a modest retiring man, but the 
possessor of rare intellectual gifts the cultivation of which to- 
gether with his uuscKish devotion to his profession carved for 
himself a place in the front ranks among the Journalists of this 
country. 

The sudden death of a prominent citizen in any community 
always awakens a deep sense of grief in the hearts of the people. 
But seldom have the citizens of Worcester been called to mourn 
a greater loss than that which they sustained on the 17th of 
Jan., LS.S2, in the death of Alexander Hamilton Bullock. He 
was one of Worcester's brightest jewels, and a man of genius. 
Although not a native of Worcester he had spent the greater 
part of his life here and had been identified in so many ways 
with the public and private institutions of our city that no man 
in it was better known or more respected. His scholarly attain- 
ments, wise judgments, power af oratory and spotless character, 
amply fitted him to worthily fill any ofHce within the gift of the 
people. The many public trusts that we reposed in him from 
the least to that of chief magistrate of the Commonwealth, he 
filled with honor to himself and carried grace and dignity to the 
the office. It should be a source of pride to any community to 
have within its circle such a inan, who by his official services 
within his own state had acquired a national reputation so cred- 
itable as to make him the choice of the chief magistrate of the 
Nation, to fill the highest diplomatic post in Europe. But Mr. 
Bullock was not a seeker of public oflice, and with due courtesy 
declined the proffered honors, preferring his own quiet social 
home-life. 

On January 18th occurred the death of Mr. Thomas Ashworth 
of the firm of Ashworth and Jones of Valley Falls. Mr. Ash- 
worth was a native of Milurow in Butterworth, Lancashire, 
England. In December, 1848, at the age of 26 years, having 
acquired the weaver's trade, he came to America and soon found 
employment with the Harding brothers in the town of Oxford. 
In 1852 he went to California, but after the experience of a year 
and a half there, returned to his old field of labor, working in 
the employ of Buffum and Thayer and the late George Hodges 



142 

at Oxford, and for a time operating the Franklin Mill in Holden, 
where he was one of the first if not the first in this country to 
manufacture shoddy, he having imported a picker from England 
for the purpose. Within two years after the formation of the 
copartnership of Ashworth & Jones, which occurred in 1861, 
the mill privilege at Valley Falls was purchased and this new 
firm started out on a business career which has been crowned 
with remarkable success. With but an exceedingly small 
amount of capital to start with, only the hard earned savings 
from their daily toil in the weaver's room after coming to this 
country, these men have by their fidelity and through knowledge 
of the business accumulated a handsome property and an envi- 
able business reputation. 

Mr. Philander Sears who for more than half a century had 
been a respected citizen of Worcester(a tiller of the soil) passed 
awaj"- January 19th, aged 86 years. 

January 29th another of Worcester's old-time business men 
died at his residence in South Worcester, at the advanced age 
of 80 years. Joseph Boyden was born Sept., 1801, on Paka- 
choag Hill, in the edge of Auburn, a descendant of Lieut. John 
Boyden who was living on Pakachoag Hill in Worcester as early 
as 1742. This John's son Samuel married Sarah Curtis and 
had several children, among them Joseph, the subject of this 
sketch. Mr. Boyden when a young man learned the watch- 
maker's trade of the late Parley Goddard in Shrewsbury, and 
in 1823 began business in Worcester in conipnny with the late 
Wm. D. Fenno, occupying a store at the corner of Main and 
Walnut streets. When the brick building took the place of the 
wooden one, they took a store in that, and continued in trade 
until 1849, when Mr. Boyden retired, having by his upright and 
careful attention to business accumulated a handsome property. 

Mr. John P. Southgate, for more than 30 j-ears one of our 
active business men, died Feb. oth, in his 7Sth year. He was 
born in Leicester, son of Samuel and Hannah (Waite) South- 
gate. In 1834 he opened a shop on the site where now stands 
Horticultural Hall, for the manufacture of l)rushes. He was 
afterwards engaged with Mr. James H. Wall in the boot, slioe 
and leather trade, occupying a store on the north corner of Main 



143 

and Mechanic streets. Their store being burned out in 1841, 
Mr. Southgate started again in a store that stood where Piper's 
block now stands, but in 1844 a copartnership was formed with 
Mr. Thos. M. Rogers for carrying on the leather and shoe-find- 
ings trade. In 18r)0 they removed their business to a store on 
the north corner of Main and Pleasant streets, and after five 
years of successful business Mr. Southgate retired from the firm 
with a well-filled purse ; but through unfortunate speculation in 
real estate he found in 1858 his fortune materially reduced. 
He was a member of the Common Council in 1850 and 1851, and 
of the Board of Aldermen in 1855 and 1856, Since 18G0 he had 
been engaged in manufacturing business in Auburn. 

Mr. John Dean, a native of Clitheroe, England, died at his 
residence in New Worcester Feb. 7th. Mr. Dean came to this 
country when but a lad of twelve years, his parents first settling 
at Lowell Mass., afterward removing to Providence R. I. Mr. 
Dean came to Worcester in 1858, and in company with Samuel 
P. Emerson established the manufacture of Daguerrotype mats. 
Afterward he was associated with Mr. Eneas Morgan in the 
manufacture of Photographic materials and japanning. 

Another link in a long family chain was broken by the death 
of Mr. Sewall Rice on Sunday Feb. 26th, in his 84th year. He 
was a descendant of Jonas Rice who was the fir&t to begin the 
settlement of Worcester in 1713. Mr, Sewall Rice was a black- 
smith by trade and for many 3'ears resided on the same spot 
where his great great grandfather first built his house. 

Jonathan Grout, born in Millbury Sept. 24th, 1815, died in 
Worcester April 4th. About 40 years ago Mr. Grout came to 
Worcester and began the sale of stationery. Two years later 
he, with the late George Brown, established the business which 
in 1876 he sold to Messrs Putnam & Davis, and which has been 
so successful!}- managed by them. Mr. Grout was an enterpri- 
sing business man and died leaving a handsome property. 

On the morning of April 13th the people of Worcester were 
astonished by the news of the sudden death of Mr. George W. 
Gill, which took place at the office of the Washburn Iron Com- 
pany, whither he had gone to attend to his accustomed duties. 
The history of this man's business life is indeed remarkable and 



144 

illustrates what can be accomplished through genuine pluck unci 
steadfast determination. Born in the town of West Uoylston, 
March 31, 1<S19, he started out upon life with scarcely any men- 
tal training, his father and mother both dying when he was but 
a lad. At the age of sixteen he came to Worcester, and after 
several unsuccessful attempts at finding employment, finally 
found an opportunity to learn the blacksmith's trade with Levi 
Howe whose shop was at the corner of Old Market and Union 
streets. Before he had completely learned the trade he left Mr. 
Howe and began work in the blacksmith shop of Mr. Edward B. 
Rice. Here he remained until l-SSD, when he went to work at 
the car shop of Messrs. Bradley & Rice on Grafton street. Af- 
ter mastering his trade he took contracts for furnishing the iron 
work required in the constructin of their cars. His energy, good 
judgment and thorough knowledge of his business enabled him 
soon to begin the accumulation of property. About the year 
1857 he left the car business to form a copartnership with Na- 
than Washburn for the purpose of the manufacture of iron T 
rails and car wheels, and during the war they did considerable 
in the way of rolling out rifle barrels for the government. In 
1864 Mr. Washburn sold his interest in the business to Mr. Gill, 
and the Washburn Iron Co. was formed with Mr. Gill as Presi- 
dent and manager. Success attended this undertaking as it had 
all other engagements in which Mr. Gill had put his energy and 
determination, backed up by sound judgment and good practical 
common sense. No enterprise in which he took an interest 
failed ; he would overcome every obstacle in the way of success ; 
no task seemed to overtax his physical strength, and his rare 
good judgment was found equal to any emergency in whatever 
line of business he applied himself. The manufacture of iron 
rails brought Mr. Gill in direct contact with different railroad 
corporations, and while success attended his business he invest- 
ed in railroad stocks until he was pecuniarily interested in the 
Norwich & Worcester, Worcester & Nashua, Providence & 
Worcester, Rutland & Burlington, Boston & Albany, Eastern, 
Northern, Fitchburg, Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Evansville & 
Terre Haute, Ind. roads In several of the roads he was a large 
stockholder as well as a director. 



145 

Thus have we very briclly follovsred the lad of sixteen from 
from the poor, ragged boy up to one of the most successful and 
wealthy business men of Worcester- Nor was this all, he was 
for man}' years one of the most active and prominent political 
Democratic leaders in the state, having been a delegate to 
almost every National and State convention of his party for a 
quarter of a century. 

Hon. John C. Whitin, born March 1, 1H07, died at Whitins- 
ville, April 22- He was the 5th son of Col. Paul Whitin, a 
blacksmith, who settled in Northbridge in 1782, and as early as 
1809 established what was known as the Northbridge Manufac- 
turing Company and put in operation a mill for the manufacture 
of cloth. Here young Whitin was put to work when but nine 
years of age. At twelve years of age he was placed in the ma- 
chine shop where repairs were made. In 1825 a copartnership 
was formed under the style of Paul Whitin & Sons, and a new 
mill was soon erected on the site of the old mill, owned by Col. 
Whitin and his father-in-law Col. Fletcher. Mr. John C. Whi- 
tin was made general superintendent of machinery and repairs. 
In this occupation he developed a talent for invention, and in 
1832 took out a patent for a picking machine. This machine 
attracted the attention of manufacturers throughout the country, 
and in 1834 the first one was sold. From that time on there 
hay been a steady, growing demand for Mr. Whitin's pickers and 
lappers. The manufacturing capacity has increased from time 
to time until more than five acres of floor room is occupied for 
making and setting up machines, and 700 men are emploj^ed in 
their construction. Mr. Whitin was a man of rare talents and 
he used them with good results, for no man has done more than 
he to build up the manufacturing and mechanical interests along 
the line of the Blackstoiie river where the name has become 
famous, its fame spreading far beyond the valley of the Black- 
stone. Mr. Whitin was thought to be a successful man and 
enjoyed the entire confidence of his fellow townsmen, having 
been called to fill many places of public trust. At the time of 
hia death he was a Director of the National Bank at Whitins- 
ville, and President of the Savings bank there ; a Director of the 
Providence and Worcester railroad, and had been representative 
to the General Court, and a Presidential P^lector in 1876. 



146 

On the 1 1th day of May Mr. Klisha N. Child died at his home 
on West street. He was a native of the state of Maine, but went 
to Boston when a young man and learned the trade of a currier. 
For a short time he was located in Millbury. About 30 3'ears 
ao;o he established himself in Worcester in the manufacture of 
boots and shoes. He soon gained a reputation for fair and 
honorable dealing, which reputation he retained until his death. 
He was a quiet, unassuming man, but one who did much to give 
character and stability to the busines interests of Worcester. 

Mr. Harrison Bliss, another of our active and successful 
business men, died at his residence, corner of Main and State 
streets, July 7th. He was born in Royalston in this County 
Oct. 9, 1812. At the age of eighteen he came to Worcester 
and spent the first year in the employ of Dr. Oliver Fiske, who 
then lived on the same spot which Mr. Bliss has made his home- 
stead for nearly 20 years. He was afterwards clerk in the Post- 
office for two years under James Wilson as Postmaster, when 
the Post-offlce was in a wooden building which stood on the site 
of the present Union block. He also served as clerk two years 
under Jubal Harrington as Postmaster while the office was in 
the old Exchange building. He then, in 1835, started the gro- 
cery and flour trade with Allen Harris in Salisbury's Block at 
Lincoln square. After a few 3'ears Mr. Harris retired and was 
succeeded by Joseph E. Gregory who had been employed as 
clerk and to whom Mr. Bliss sold out his interest in 1850 and 
with T. & J. Sutton opened a store on Mechanic street for the 
sale of flour and grain ; the style of the firm was Bliss, Sutton 
and Compan}'. In 1857 he sold his interest to Messrs. Sutton 
and turned his attention to the banking and real estate business. 
Mr. Bliss was at one time associated in the flour and grain trade 
with Hon. H. A. Blood of Fitchburg. He was a large stock- 
holder in the New Bedford & Taunton Braucli Railroad, and 
the Boston Clinton & Fitchburg Railroad, having been President 
of the former and Vice President of the latter road. Mr. Bliss 
was one of the most active movers in organizing the Mechanics' 
Bank in 1848, filling the office of President from I860 until his 
death. The establishment of the Mechanics' Savings P>ank in 



147 

1851 was due largely to his efforts, he lieing its President since 
ISGl. He WMS a heavy stockholder in the Bay State House and 
Music Hall Corporations, and President of the latter. He was 
a representative to the General Court in l.Sf);}, member of the 
Board of Aldermen for 1861, 1863, 1864, 186;'), and 1874. Mr. 
Bliss has been one of Worcester's most successful business men 
and one of her largest real estate owners. 

June 24th Charles Heywood died at his residence in Gardner 
Mass., where he was born Nov. 12, 1831. His father, Levi 
Heywood, was the originator and senior proprietor of the well 
known firm, Heywood Bro's & Co. of Gardner, extensive chair 
manufacturers. The late Mr. Charles Heywood was a member 
of this firm and an energetic, public spirited business man. For 
ten 3-ears he was a Director of the Boston Barre & Gardner 
Railroad, afterwards its Vice President, and at the time of his 
death was President of that road, in the prosperity of which he 
took great interest. He was President of the First National 
Bank of Gardner for nine years, and President of the Gardner 
Savings Bank at the time of his decease. He was also founder 
of the paper known as The Gardner News. 

The death of Lieut. Col. Arthur A. Goodell occurred in this 
city on Friday June 30th. He was born June 30th, 1839, just 
reaching his 43d birth day. At the breaking out of the late war 
he was acting teller in the City Bank and at once decided to take 
his place in the ranks to do service for his country, the bank offi- 
cials voting to keep his place open for him and pay his salary. 
He joined the City Guards, was commissioned Sergeant Major 
and returned home in August, 1861, after three months, holding 
the office of Adjutant. In August, 1862, he received a Captain's 
commission in Companj' C, 36th Regiment, was made a Major 
in Jan. 1863, and Lieut. Col. in July following. He was dis- 
charged by reason of disability with the rank of brevet Brigadier 
General, May 5, 1H64, having been severely wounded at Blue 
Springs, Tenn., Oct. 10, 1862, by a piece of shell, which com- 
pletely disqualified him for active work on the field. After his 
return home he was Cashier of the First National Bank, and 
associated in business with Mr. A. H. Hammond in the manu- 
facture of organ reeds, and later with J. S. Rogers and F. W. 
Wellington, in the coal trade. 



148 

Hon. Hartley Williams, Chief Justice of the Central District 
Court, died at his residence on Harvard street in this city Aug. 
17th. Judge Williams was stricken with paralysis on the eve- 
ning of March 30th, while presiding in Horticultural Hall at a 
meeting of the natives of the State of Maine, he being a native 
of the town of Somerset in that state. The first attack was 
so severe that little hope of recovery was at first entertained by 
his friends, but with the coming of more favorable symptoms it 
was thought by some that he might partially recover, but a sud- 
den cold produced congestion of the lungs resulting in death. 

He was born Aug. 12, 1820, and in 1844 came to Worcester 
and entered the employ of Howe & Goddard as book-keeper. 
He remained about two years when, in company with Asa W. 
Nickerson he engaged for a short time in the grocery business. 
Afterwards entering the law office of Hon. Francis H. Dewc}', 
he was admitted to the bar in 1850, and soon entered into 
copartnership with Mr. Dewey, which copartnership continued 
until Mr. Dewey's appointment as Justice of the Superior Court. 
In 1868, at the creation of the Municipal Court, Mr. Williams 
was appointed its Justice ; and when the Central District Court 
was established in place of the Municipal Court he was also ap- 
pointed Justice for that tribunal. 

In the death of Mr. Williams the citizens of Worcester have 
sustained a great loss, for he was one of the most useful and 
respected of her people, an able lawj'er and an upright Judge. 
Previous to his appointment as Justice he was chosen Alderman 
in 1854 ; Commissioner of Insolvency in 1856 ; state Senator in 
1862 and 1863 ; member of the Executive Council in 1864 and 
1865 ; District- Attorney in 1866 and 1867, and for several years 
a member of the School Board. In all these departments of 
usefulness he leaves an enviable record for faithfulness and 
valuable service. 

A few days less than a month from the date of the death of 
Charles Hcywood of Gardner, we have to record the demise of 
his father, Levi Hcywood, which occurred on the 21st day of 
July, in that town, of which he was a native, born Dec. 10, 1800. 
He was son of Benjamin and grandson of Seth who was son of 
Phineas of Shrewsbury, who went there from Concord about the 



149 

year 1739. This Phinoas was grandson of John Ileywood who 
emigrated from England and settled at Concord in this State 
about Id;')!). Daniel Ileywood, prominent among the early set- 
tlers of Worcester, was a brother of I'hineas of Shrewsbury, a nd 
the Hon. Benjamin Ileywood who was so prominent in the alfairs 
of Worcester and who served his country so well during the war 
of the Revolution, was a brother of Seth Hey wood of Gardner. 

Saturday evening Oct. 7th closed the career of one who for 
more than sixty years has been numbered among the business 
men of Worcester. Southworth Allen Howland was born in 
West Brookfield in this county, Sept. 11, 1800, son of South- 
worth Howland who died in Worcester in 1853. Southworth A. 
Howland learned the book-binder's trade of Joseph Avery in 
Plymouth, and in the fall of 1821 came to Worcester and opened 
a book store and bindery in company with the late Enos Dorr, 
under the firm name of Dorr & Howland, in what is now the 
north end of the Exchange Hotel building. In 1828 they re- 
moved to a store in what was known as "Goddard's Row," where 
Mr. Lewis Barnard's block of stores now stands. For about 
twenty years this firm carried on an extensive business as book- 
sellers and publishers, making a specialty of school books. 
Among their publications may be found the celebrated School 
Readers of Dr. A. T. Lowe of Boston, Pond's Murray's Gram- 
mar, Infant School Manual, Barber's Historical Collections of 
Massachusetts, and Historical Collections of New England, 
besides numerous Sunday School and other publications, several 
of which were compiled by Mr. Howland. For about ten years 
succeeding the year 1842 Mr. Howland continued the business 
for himself, publishing a number of books, among which was the 
Economical Housekeeper, compiled by his wife. After 1852 
he was engaged in the Insurance business, which he continued 
until a few years ago when on account of failing health he was 
obliged to yield to the infirmities of old age. Mr. Howland was 
always alive to public interests, being.an active member of the 
Mechanics' Association from its organization, and for several 
years its clerk. 

William E. Frost, a native of Worcester, born in 1824, died 
at Clinton, Oct. 12th. For many years he was a resident of 



150 



Worcester and connected with her manufacturing interests, 
His inventive skill and extensive experience in manufacturing 
brought him in 1860 into connection with the Washburn & Moen 
Manufacturing Co., and the manufacture of crinoline wire was 
then started under the direction of Mr. Frost, and to his inven- 
tions the whole proces of preparing crinoline wire with the vari- 
ous improvements therein owe their origin. In 1873 he, in 
company with Mr. S. T. Howard, also of Worcester, purchased 
the old Lancaster Quilt Mill property in Clinton, and began the 
manufacture of cotton yarns, in which business they continued 
until his death. 

Mr. Sewall H. Bowker died at his residence, No. 3 Harvard 
Place, Oct. 17th. He was born at Hayden Row, Hopkinton, 
Mass., son of James A. Bowker of that place. When a young 
man he learned the trade of making straw hats and bonnets at 
Upton. In 18.56 he came to Worcester and started the manu- 
facture of straw goods in Flagg's Block. In this he was quite 
successful, and to add still further to his success he, about the 
year 1860, invented a process of striking out felt hats v>ith a 
single blow on a die. At one time Mr. Bowker occupied the 
entire upper floor of Flagg's block besides a large building in 
the rear. His rapidly increasing business compelled him to run 
his works day and night. But failing health caused him to re- 
linquish a profitable business well established, and for the past 
fifteen years he has been carrying on a conflict with the disease 
that has finally caused his death. 

ELLERY B. CRANE, Chairman. 



REPORT ON ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS, PUBLICATIONS AND ENGRAVINdS. 

THE chance for obtaining contributions to this department 
is so rare that it becomes necessary, and perhaps profitable, 
to notice some things not in our possession, in order that we may 
obtain a better knowledge of what was formerl}' done in the line 
of literature and art. The improvements of to-day are before 



151 

us, visible and tangible ; ])nt in our hurry to find something new 
and startling we often overlook what is most substantial, or fail 
to receive benefit in comparing what we call new with what was 
well known centuries asfo. 

One of the earliest prints now in existence is that of a Calen- 
dar, a copy of which is to be found in the British Museum, 
bearing the date of 14 (i;'). The early production of this work 
indicates that the division of time into stated periods was of 
sufficient importance to warrant a more liberal promulgation of 
the methods then in use. From the earliest period of civiliza- 
tion the distribution and arrangement of time has been a "vexed 
question ;" and when we take into account the uniform revolu- 
tions of the celestial bodies, it seems strange that so many mis- 
takes should have been made, or so much controversy arisen in 
regard to measuring and dividing time. It is true that the 
division of the day into twenty-four equal parts, or hours, has 
been recognized since the earliest ages, but the })roper time to 
commence the day has alwa^-s been in dispute. The solar day 
and the solar year were no less marked 2000 3'ears ago than 
they are at the present time, but many nations reckoned time by 
the motions of the moon alone ; whereas the solar day, the solar 
year, and the lunar month were and are the only natural divis- 
ions of time. But when shall we begin to count? Nearly all 
civilized nations now place the commencement of the civil day 
at midnight and divide it into twelve morning hours and twelve 
evening hours. The ancient Chaldeans and the modern Greeks 
commenced at sunrise ; the Italians and Bohemians at sunset. 
Under this arrangement the morning hour or beginning varies 
with the seasons, except under the equator. In early times 
Rome had three divisions, sunrise, sunset, and mid-day. 

The week consists of seven days, unalterable, with no refer- 
ence to celestial motions. The origin of this division of time 
is unknown, though it has been recognized in the eastern coun- 
tries ever since the remembrance of man. It does not consti- 
tute the aliquot part of a year or a lunar month, therefore, it has 
been supposed h\ some that each hour of the twenty-four was 
dedicated to some planet, and that the day received the name 
of the planet which presided over its first hour, the order being 



152 

fixed according to Egyptian astronomy wherein was recognized 
seven planets, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury 
and the Moon. The Saxons followed the same rule, but sub- 
stituted the names of their own divinities for those of the gods 
of Greece. 

DAYS. 

LATIN. ENOLIBH. SAXON. 

Dies Solis, Day of the Sun, Sunday, Sun's day. 

Dies LuncD, Day of the Moon, Monday, Moon's day. 

Dies Martis, Day of Mars, Tuesday, Tiw's day. 

Dies Mercurii, Day of Mercury, Wednesday, Woden's day. 

Dies Jovis, Day of Jupiter, Thursday, Thor's day. 

Dies Veneris, Day of Venus, Friday, Friga's day. 

Dies Saturni, Day of Saturn, Saturday, Saterne's day. 

It will be seen that this division of time has but little to do 
with astronomical calculations, or any exact division af time, but 
is only one method of distributing time into convenient periods 
adapted to the routine of civil life. 

It has been claimed that the division of the year into twelve 
months originated from the fact that the synodic revolutions of 
the moon are performed twelve times in 3.54 days, lacking but a 
few days of a solar year. But this difference in a few years be- 
came so great as to cause even nations to disregard the moon 
and appeal to the sun for a true guide, though the month has 
not been stricken from the calendars of any of the nations, but 
now generally represents so far as practicable the twelfth part 
of a solar year. The Egj'ptians, in early times, considered 30 
days a month, and added five days at the end to complete the 
year. In the absense of any intercalation one fourth of a da}' 
was lost every 3'ear and the commencement of the year went 
back one day in in four years, making 1461 Egyptian years equal 
to 1460 years of 3654 days each. The division of time causing 
the year to consist of 36.5 days and a fraction, 365 not being 
divisible by 12 made it impossible for each to be of the same 
length and include all the daj's of the year. The fractional ex- 
cess above 365 days caused much controversy as to what method 
shouuld be adopted to dispose of the extra hours. 

The various methods of intercalation have been the subject 
of criticism from the e.irliest times. When the Julian was first 



153 

proninlj2:atcM], tlie equinox fell on the 2r)th of March ; at the time 
of the Council of Nice, in ^25, on the 21st; and when the re- 
formation was made in 15S2, it had fallen back to the 11th. 

Under the Gregorian style every year divisible by four with- 
out a remainder is leap year, excepting the centurial years, 
which are onlj' leap years when divisible bj' four after omitting 
the two cyphers. Thus IGOO was a leap year, but 1700, 1800, 
and 1900 are common years ; 2000 will be a leap year. 

In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII. abolished the ancient calendar, 
substituting what is known as the Gregorian Calendar or New 
Style. The vernal equinox which happened on the 11th day of 
March was changed back to the 21st. From 1582 to 1700 the 
diMerence between the old and new style was 10 days.- The 
dilTerence of the stales during the 18th century was 11 days. 
The dilJerence in the present century is 12 days. From 1900 
to 2100, inclusive, it will be 13 days. These changes were 
made against considerable opposition, and in England the law 
establishing the new style was ver}'^ elaborate and would make 
at least ten pages like this. This law was passed by Parliament 
on the 27th day of January, 1750, at which time the Julian Cal- 
endar was in common use in England and America. These 
changes have made it exceedingly difficult to determine dates 
about the time the changes were made, for the reason that some 
adhered to the old Calendar while others adopted the new. 

The Calendar is still imperfect, and the undiscovered move- 
ments of the celestial bodies are undoubtedly such as to work 
important changes hereafter, overthrowing present calculations, 
and making the efforts of science of but little value, when applied 
to the wonderful mysteries of Nature. 

CLARK JILLSON, Chairman. 



154 

REPORT ON RELICS, COINS AND CURIOSITIES. 

TWENTY-SEVEN persons have made contributions to this 
Department since the last annual report was presented. 
All of these articles add to the variety and value of our cabinet, 
and I hope that all friends of our institution may continue their 
praiseworthy efforts in placing here for preservation, such arti- 
cles as they may possess, suitable for a historic collection. 
Things of to-day, looked upon as mere trifles now, may, at no 
distant future, be regarded with great interest, and serve to 
impress upon the mind lessons of patriotism and veneration for 
the past, while much may be learned from these mementos 
concerning those who have preceded us upon the stage of life. 
Mr. Henry W. Miller has manifested his interest in this de- 
partment of our work, by presenting the Society with a mould 
imported from England in 1818, which was used in making paper 
before the invention of machinery for that purpose. From Mr. 
Jillson we have received a pair of mammoth shears that were 
used by woolen manufacturers in shearing cloth. They meas- 
ure four feet in length, and the blades are six inches wide. I am 
unable to describe the manner in which they were thus used. 
We have also received from the same source, an ancient speci- 
men of pottery and an Indian skull. A fine oil painting, nicely 
framed, of Lake Quinsigamond, by Triscott, has been received 
from Mr. Alfred Waites, who also contributed a large steel en- 
graving, "Authors of the United States." The following have 
also been received: — from Mr. A. S. Roe, a framed memorial 
of President Harrison ; from Mr. Norton L. Cook, a piece of 
the clock dial, from the old meeting-house in Leicester ; from 
Mr. Pardon A. Lee, a turtle shell and an English fourpcnny 
piece ; from Mr. George Sumner, a framed group of portraits, 
including himself and a number of personal friends, taken in 
1854 ; from Mr. E. H. Marshall, an Indian gouge ; from W"m. 
B. Harding Esq., a stone uxe ; from Mr. E. J. Leland, a cut 
nail used in building the house of Levi Leland, of Grafton, in 
1806 ; from Mr. F. P. Rice, specimens of powder used in the 
bombardment of Charleston S. C, 1864 ; from Mr. Tilly Rav- 



155 

mond, a lock from the brick Court House built in 1801, a card 
of wrougiit nails used in building said liousc, and a lead window 
weight from the same ; from Mr. Henry M. Clemence, fireman's 
bucket, 17U3, formerly belonging to vStimuel Allen Esq., forty 
years County Treasurer, and a fireman's bag formerly belonging 
to Nathaniel Berais, 1791 : from Mr. F>phraim Tucker, muster 
roll of Company K, Lieut. Durgin, Tenth Regiment, Veteran 
Reserve Corps, on duty at the trial of the conspirators against 
President Lincoln : also a Chinese coin ; from Mr. William H. 
Inman, portion of shattered car sill, and from Mr. Daniel Sea- 
grave, piece of car wheel, broken by the Dualin explosion in 
Worcester June 23d, 1870 ; from Mr. E. B. Crane, fourteen U. 
S. cents, some quite rare ; from Mr. James A. Smith, a framed 
photograph of the old Guard House, in Rutland ; fi-om George 
H. Harlow Esq., a medal, souvenir of the Centennial fair ; from 
Mr. E. F. Thompson, a foot stove ; from Putnam & Davis por- 
tion of an aligator's hide ; from George Chandler M. D., three 
buttons and two musket balls picked up by himself, Jul}' 1842, 
at Fort Erie, which was captured July 3, 1814, by the U. S army 
under command of Winfield Scott and Gen. Brewer ; from Mr- 
John G. Smith, a manuscript of, "Particulars of a sub-division of 
all Lands, Lots, Buildings &c. being within the Town of Boyl- 
ston, in the assessment district No. 17, in the 7 division, State 
of Massachusetts, owned, possessed or occupied on the first day 
of October 1798 ;" from Mr. Lucien Prince, a horse shoe 7x9, 
worn by a horse from the pineries of northern Wisconsin ; from 
Rev. Albert Tyler, an ancient pewter spoon cast in the family 
spoon mould of Moses Cooper of Providence, R. I., who died 
fifty 3'ears ago, at the age of 97 ; he was great grandfather of 
the donor ; from John Boyden Esq., a valuable collection of 
war relics. I refrain from inaking an}' extended notice of this 
interesting contribution, as the military department, when or- 
ganized, will be much better qualified than myself to properly 
describe the various articles presented ; from Mr. A. E. Peck, 
a framed photograph of the late Rev. Seth Sweetser D. D., and 
two pieces of wood from the wrecked ship, ''Sparrowhawk," 
which brought food to the Plymouth Pilgrims soon after the 
settlement of the Colony. 



156 

Mr, Joseph B. Knox has left in the custody of the Society a 
very interesting relic, being a mortar formerly owned by Elder 
Brewster, and brought to this country by him in the Mayllower. 
Mr. Knox is a lineal descendant from Elder Brewster, whose 
name he bears, a record of which we have in our possession. 

The most unique article contributed, is a fac simile of the 
bullet fired by Sergeant Mason, September 11, 1881, at Charles 
Guiteau, producing a profile likeness of the assassin as it hit the 
wall of the prison. This was presented by Mr. Henry Phelps, 
now in Washington, with the following certificate : — 

warden's office, united states jail, 

washington, d. c, jan. 24, 1882. 

I certify that the Bullet which was fired by Sergeant Mason, on the Hth 

of September last, at Charles Guiteau the assassin, as it hit the wall of his, 

Guiteau's cell, was flattened into a correct profile likeness of said Guiteau : 

and that the castings made by E,. A. Whitehand, of this city, from a mould 

made from the original, are exact fac similes of the original EuUet after it 

was 80 flattened. 

JOHN S. CROCKER, Warden. 

In closing this report I desire to express our thanks to all 
those who have favored us during the last year by their contri- 
butions, and to assure them of our appreciation of their efforts 
in our behalf, trusting that the future may witness still greater 
accessions to this interesting and instructive department of our 
work. 

Respectfully submitted. 

SAMUEL E. STAPLES, Chairman. 




157 
Index to I'roceediiigs for 1882. 



Academy of Sckiice, St. Louis, i:il 
Allen, Samuel, 155. 
Allen, WillardS., 131. 
American Antiquarian Society, 131. 
Amraidown, Holmes, 122, 131. 
Arcluvological Inst, of America, 131. 
Arnold, James N., 131. 
Ashburnham, 91). 
Ashworth, Thomas, Ul. 
Astor Library, New Vork, 131. 
Athol, 9i). 
Auburn, 99. 

B 

Baldwin,CharlcsC.. 122, 131. 

I5aldwin, John D.. 122, 131. 

Ballon, Adin, 122, 131. 

Barre, 100. 

Bartlett, Thomas E., 43, 

Bartlctt William II., 136. 

Barton, Edmund M., 123. 

Barton, William S., 131. 

Bates, Phinehas Jr., ()8, 131. 

Bemis. Nathaniel, 155. 

Berlin, 101. 

Bicknel, Quincy, 131. 

Bigelow, William Howard, 89,90,93. 

Bill, Ledyard, 9G. 

Blackmer, Francis T., 131. 

Blackstone, 102. 

Blake. Francis E., 131. 

Bliss, Harrison, 146. 

Bolton, 102. 

Bowker, Sewall H., 150. 

Boyden, John, 123, 131, 155. 

Boyden, Joseph, 142. 

Boylston, 102. 

Brewster, Elder David, 68, 123, 156 

Brookfield, 102. 



Bullock, Alexander II., 141. 

C 

Chandler, Dr. Geo., 8,13,123,131,155. 
Chapin, Henry, 122. 
Chapin, Louisa T., 131. 
Chaplin, llev. Ebenezer, 45, 
Charlton, 103. 
Child, Elisha N., 146. 
Chivalry, Age of, 20. 
City Messenger, Boston, 131. 
Clark, Robert & Co., 131. 
Clemence, Henry M., 131, 155. 
Clinton, 103. 
Committees for 1883, 5. 
Cook, Norton L., 132, 154. 
Coolidge, Rev. A. H., 96, 118. 
Cooper, Moses, 155. 
Court of General Sessions. 43. 
Crane, EUery B., 3, 9, 34, 89, 118, 120, 
122, 124, 132,136, 137, 155. 

D 



Dana, 103. 

Daniels, George F., 122, 132. 

Davenport la.. Academy of Sciences, 

132. 
Davis, D. A., 132. 
Davis, William. 132. 
Dean. John, 143. 
Denny, Charles A., 96. 
Departments of W^ork, 4. 
Dickinson, Thomas A., 136. 
Dodge, Benjamin J., 132. 
Donations, List of, 131. 
Douglas, 103. 
Drew, Allis & Co., 132. 
Drew, Thomas, 122, 132. 
Dudley, 104. 
Durgin, Lieut., 155. 



158 



E 

Essex Institute, li52. 

F 

Fifth Day Meeting, 119. 
Fitchburg, 104. 
Forehand, Sullivan, 132. 
Frost, William E. 149. 

G 

Gardner, 105. 

Gill, George W., 143. 

Goddard, Delano A., 140. 

Goddard, Lucius P. 132, 

Goodell, Arthur A., 147. 

Goodwin, C. Otis, 43. 

Grafton, 105. 

Green, Samuel A., 132. 

Grout, Jonathan. 143 

H 

Hall, J. Brainerd, 132. 

Harding, Wm. B., 96, 97, 132, 154. 

Hardwick, 105. 

Harlow, George H., 132, 155. 

Harris, Clarendon, 132. 

Harvard, 105. 

Harvard University, 132. 

Hastings, Thomas J., 132. 

Haven, Mrs. S. F., 132. 

Henshaw, Miss H. E., 132. 

Hemenway, Miss A. M., 132. 

Heywood, Charles, 147. 

Heywood, Levi, 148. 

Historical Society of Pa., 132. 

Holden, 105. 

Howard, Joseph Jackson, 132. 

Howe, William B., 124, 132. 

Howland, S. A., 149, 

Hubbardston, 100. 

Hudson, Hon. Charles, 120, 122. 



Inman, William H., 132, 155. 



Jillson, Clark, 13, 14, 120, 122, 132. 

136, 153, 154. 
Johnson, Charles R., 33, 132, 139. 
Joslin, Henry V. A., 132. 

K 

Kansas Historical Society, 133. 

King, Henry W., 10. 

Kneedler, H. S., 133. 

Knight, Dexter, 118, 

Knowlton, T. S.,133. 

Knox, Joseph B., 68, 123, 133, 156. 



Lamb, Thomas Melvin, 13, 14, 140. 

Lancaster, 106. 

Lamed, Miss Ellen D., 33, 122, 133. 

Lawrence, Edwin R., 133. 

Lawrence, J. W., 117. 

Lee, Pardon A., 133, 154. 

Leicester, 106. 

Academy, 77. 

Excursion to, 68. 

Library, 117. 
Leland, E. J., 133. 154. 
Leland, Levi, 154. 
Leominster, 107. 

Library Com. of Philadelphia, 133. 
Lincoln, Edward W., 122, 133. 
Littlefield, George E., 133. 
Lovell, Albert A., 93, 120. 
Lunenburg, 107. 
Lyford, J. Chauncey, 10. 

M 

Magnalia, Mather's, 33, 122. 
Mammoth Cave, 96. 
Manuscripts, Ancient &c., 150. 
Marble, Albert P., 133. 
Marshall, Elijah H., 133, 154. 
Mason, Sergt. 156. 
May, Rev. Samuel, 77, 117, 118. 



159 



Mendon, 107. 

Merritield, Lucius, 13B. 

Messenger, David S., 33, 122, 133. 

Metcalf, Dr. John G., 122, 133. 

McLellan, J. A., 133. 

Miltbrd. 107. 

Military History, Department of, 4, 

43, 68, 137. 
Millbury, 107. 
Miller, Henry W., 133, ir.4. 
Minister, An Old Time, 44. 
Mortar, The Brewster, 68, 123. 

N 

Narragansett Hist. Society, 133. 

New Braintree, 108. 

New Eng. Hist. Gen. Society, 133. 

Northborough, 109. 

Northbridge, 109. 

North Brookfield, 101). 

O 

Oakham, 109. 

Officers for 1883, 3. 

O'Flynn, Richard, 120, 121, 133. 

Oxford, 109. 



Taine, Nathaniel, 34, 120, 133. 
Paxton, 109. 

Peck, Augustus E., 134, 155. 
Peirce, Henry B., 134. 
Perkins, Dr. Elisha, 13. 
Petersham, 110. 
Phelps, Henry, 123, 134, 15(5. 
Phillips, Rev. Geo. AV., 134. 
Phillipston, 110. 
Pickett," Josiah, 33. 
Pillsbury, Rev. Levi, 34. 
Pratt, Sumner, 134. 
Prentiss, Addison, 33. 
President's Address, 9, 137. 
Prince, I>ucien, 122, 134, 155. 
Princeton, 110. 



Publications of the Society, 6. 
Publishing Fund, 11. 
Putnam ;<: Davis, 134, 155. 

R 

Raymond, Edward T., 43. 

Raymond. Tilly, 134, 154. 

Raymore, Henry E., 134. 

Relics, Coins, &c., 154. 

Rice, Charles W., 68. 
[ Rice, Franklin P., 43, 122, 134, 154 
I Rice, Hon. W. W., 134. 
I Rice, Rev. W. W., 134. 

Rice, Sewall, 143, 

Roe, Alfred S., 34, 96, 122, 134, 1 

Royalston, 111. 

Rutland, 111. 



Salisbury, Stephen Jr., 121, 134. 
Seagrave, Daniel, 68, 120, 122, 134, 

155. 
Sears Philander, 142. 
' Sheldon, George, 134. 
Shrewsbury, 111. 

ShumAvay, Henry L., 43, 121,134,130. 
Smith, James A., 134, 155. 
Smith, John G., 134, 155. 
Smith, Henry M., 34, 43, 122, 134. 
Smith, H. O., 118. 
Smith, William A., 123, 135. 
Society, Publications of, 6. 
Southborough, 108. 
Southbridge, 112. 
Southgate, John P., 142. 

Spencer, 112. 

Staples, H. B., 135. 

Staples, Samuel E., 14, 33, 119, 120, 
136, 150. 

State Hist. Society, Wisconsin, 135. 

Stearns, C. C, 43, 122, 135. 

Stedman, Henry F., 119, 136. 

Sterling, 112. 

Stiles, F. G., 33. 



160 



Stoddard, E. B., 135. 

Stone, Augustus, 13"). 

Stone, Everett C, 96. 

Sturbridge, 113. 

Sullivan Eros. & Libbie, 13o. 

Sumner, George, 122, 135, 13(5, lo4. 

Sutton, 113. 

Sweetser, Rev. S., 155. 



Templeton, 114. 

Thayer & AVashburn, 135. 

Thompson, Eben F., 135, 155. 

Thompson, Edward H., 43, 135. 

Thompson, George F., 10. 

Thursday Lecture, 124. 

Tillinghast, C. B., 122, 135. 

Titus, Anson Jr., 135. 

Towne, Enoch H., 135. 

Townley, Joseph B., 135. 

Towns of Wor. County, Name.* of, 97. 

Tractors, Metallic, 13. 

Tolman. Albert, 136. 

Tucker, Ephraim, 135, 155. 

Tyler, Albert, 135, 155. 

Tyler, Newell, 135. 

Tyler & Seagrave, 135. 

U 

Upham, Henry P., 10, 33, 43. 
Upton, 114. 
Uxbridge, 114. 



W 

Waites, Alfred, 20, 123, 135, 154. 

Wall, Caleb A., 135. 

Warren, 114. 

Webster, 114. 

Wesby, Edward, 136. 

Wesby, Herbert. 33, 136. 

Wesby, J. S. & Son, 136. 

West Boylston, 115. 

Wes thorough, 108. 

West Brookfield, 108. 

Western Reserve and Northern Ohio 

Historical Society, 136. 
Westminster, 115. 
Whitin, John C, 145. 
Whittemore, Abagail, 136. 
Wilder, Harvey B., 136. 
Williams, Hartley, 148. 
Winchendon, 115. 
Windham County, History of, 3:5. 
Wisconsin, State Hist. Soc. of, 135. 
Wood, Dr. Albert, 96. 
Woodcock, T. E., 118. 
AVorcester, 115. 

Worcester Co., Names of Towns, 97. 
Worcester Five Cents Savings Bank, 

136. 
Work, Departments of, 4. 



Yale College, 136. 



'>r\3 = ESS 








































012 608 900 4 



